Young workers who entered the US job market in the throes of the pandemic in 2020 faced an uphill battle. Hiring on LinkedIn dropped off dramatically, and widespread layoffs hit Gen Z more severely than most other groups.
Fast
forward two years, and the picture looks much brighter for Gen Z and
younger millennials joining the workforce today. Despite recent
headwinds like inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions driving
economic uncertainty, opportunities still abound for entry-level roles
in the US.
Here are some key findings from a recent LinkedIn report that looked at the top trends and industries for those just starting out.
Hiring rates are rebounding
Workers
with fewer than four years of full-time work are experiencing a steady
comeback after the 2020 drop-off. LinkedIn data shows overall hiring
rates in 2021 recovered from pandemic lows, up 25% from 2020. And while
Gen Z hiring rates still have room to catch up in the overall recovery, they also rebounded in 2021 — up 15% compared to 2020.
Companies
are signaling that they are ready and willing to hire more young
talent, with employers planning to hire almost 30% more new grads than they did in 2021, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Entry-level opportunities are growing fastest in Sun Belt cities
While
the big coastal cities like New York City and San Francisco continue to
attract droves of new workers, a few smaller cities top the list for
the fastest-growing cities for entry-level roles.
LinkedIn data shows Austin, Chattanooga, Raleigh and Charlotte are now the fastest-growing markets for entry-level roles
in the US. There are a lot of upsides to working in these Sun Belt
cities. Particularly, they're more affordable to live in compared to
bigger cities, which is especially top of mind given that rent prices are hitting new highs.
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