Class of 2024 prioritizes mental health & flexibility as job market outlook dims
82% of graduates are confident they will get a job shortly after graduation.
Attitudes about work change with the culture and economy. The 2024 Monster State of the Graduate Report gives us a snapshot about how America’s youngest professional cohort feels about the job market and what they value most in a workplace. The key takeaways are that they’re more pessimistic about their prospects than recent classes and that they prioritize mental wellness and flexibility in the office.
With many executives reporting plans to reduce hiring, it should come as no surprise that the class of 2024 is less optimistic about finding work than recent graduating classes. Sixty-seven percent of graduates said employers had more leverage, compared to 56% in 2023.
According to the study, which polled 1,000 college age adults between March 21 and April 3, 2024, 82% of graduates are confident they will get a job shortly after graduation, down from 88% last year. While 82% is still high, 77% of graduates reported being concerned about job security while looking for a role in the current market. What’s more, 67% of graduates said employers had more leverage, compared to 56% in 2023.
Beyond showing how graduates and soon-to-be graduates feel about the economy, the report reveals what this generation values in a job and workplace. They overwhelmingly (92%) say it’s important to feel comfortable discussing mental wellness at work.
Politics are also important. Sixty-seven percent said they wouldn’t work for a company that openly supported a political topic or candidate that they did not. What’s more, 70% said they wouldn’t work for a company whose CEO openly supported a political candidate who they didn’t support.
Related: Job growth in these 12 states exceeded the national average
As you might expect of a generation that came of age during the pandemic, they aren’t so keen on traditional work models. Sixty percent said they wouldn’t even apply to a company requiring workers to be at the office 5 days a week. However, 59% said they wouldn’t apply to work at a completely remote company. Could Hybrid work be the future? Only time will tell.