In the past 2-3 years, Gen Z has started to enter the workforce at a professional level with many entering or leaving college in pursuit of a job. Most Gen Z have been told that attending a certain college and having a 4.0 GPA would be good enough for most jobs. However, they are finding themselves empty-handed after hundreds of job applications. Even jobs listed as “Entry Level” are now requiring experience to be able to apply for the position. However, it’s not just new graduates struggling to get work.
Ever since COVID-19 in 2020, the U.S. Job Market has been suffering. In 2022 and 2023, a mass layoff among tech workers occurred, with an estimated 120,000 workers being laid off in 2022, and this trend has only continued in 2023 and 2024. With Seattle being one of the biggest employers for tech workers, this has left many in search of a job. This has had long-reaching effects, as the number of applications per job has risen from an average of 7.5 applicants to a staggering 40.9 applicants per job listing. There is even more job listings open as many Baby Boomers left the workforce after COVID-19. However, many apply to hundreds of jobs only to land a handful of interviews.
Companies’ Needs are Changing
What is currently happening is most likely an unbalanced mix of talent and need within the job market and a shift in what companies are looking for within job applications. The Chief Talent and Diversity Officer of Verizon touched upon how most jobs in Verizon do not require a degree, but softer skills more focused on communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Since COVID-19, companies realized other skills that can be beneficial and harder to learn. However, because of this, companies are now less likely to hire somebody with a college degree if they don’t exhibit those skills. Now, because of tech worker layoffs, a lot of companies don’t find their skills useful. If they were to stay in the tech industry, they would still struggle to find work as tech companies have been cutting corners to save expenses, which is what initially led to the mass layoff.
Now that people are desperate for jobs, employers will get either too many applications or very few due to the mix of talent and needs. Co-founder and CEO of Big 4 Talent, Justin Marcus, described the hiring process as “Broken.” Marcus goes on to talk about how most entry-level jobs now look for experience, leaving newer graduates showing up empty-handed from most job applications. The last time this pace for hiring new graduates was back in 2009, with workers being less confident in their careers than they were in July of 2020.
What Can You Do?
The Job Market is constantly changing and is only growing more competitive as time goes on. As this continues, more and more unemployed residents are debating on leaving Washington to pursue their careers elsewhere to have a better chance of finding employment. If you are one of those people and in need of a job, please see the employment agencies listed below with locations in the Renton area that help match you with a job opportunity based on your skill set. If you are a Renton student, please see the link to the Career Center page on the RHS website. Once there, you can find career exploration and opportunities to grow your resume and skills. We wish you the best of luck RedHawkS!
Employment Agencies:
https://smarttalentstaffing.com/contact-us/staffing-agencies-renton-wa/
Career Center Page:
https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/career-center/opportunities
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/14/current-job-openings-labor-market-college-degree-recent grads.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/09/college-hiring-outlook-job-growth-cools-for-new-grads.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/05/business/economy/jobs-college-graduates unemployment.html
Photo Credit:
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/decline-gm469182213-34805466