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Fewer than 2 in 5 new grads would be willing to work in-office, according to report

Fewer than 2 in 5 new grads would be willing to work in-office, according to report

Yahoo22-04-2025
(KRON) — Fewer than two in five — 39% — new graduates would be willing to accept a job that requires working in the office, according to a new report. About 42% of new grads would refuse to accept a job at all at a company that doesn't offer at least flexible or hybrid work schedules.
That's according to the 2025 State of the Graduate Report from Monster.
A majority of new grads — 69% — said they would be more likely to apply for a job in the first place if it allowed them to work remotely. That represents a 5% increase over last year with this year's report coming in the midst of a spate of Return to Office orders from public and private employers across the Bay Area and beyond.
AI poses biggest threat to these two professions, according to prominent SF tech investor
The survey was conducted online in the U.S. by the Harris Poll on behalf of MullenLowe among 1,009 respondents aged between 18 and 24, including 504 recent graduates and 505 impending graduates.
'The graduates' work preferences and deal breakers provide tremendous insight to employers,' said Monster Career Expert, Vicki Salemi. 'Their top must-haves are work-life balance, good health insurance, career growth/learning opportunities, and having a brag-worthy job.'
But of those surveyed, the majority — 54% — identified work-life balance as more important than factors like good health insurance, career growth opportunities, and having a 'brag-worthy' job.
Also, an increasing number of graduates — 67% — see the traditional 9-to-5 workday as a thing of the past. Additionally, the 5-day work week is also seen as outdated by 64% of survey respondents — a 10 percent jump over last year.
A majority — 59% — think that working full-time in an office is outdated, a 5% jump from last year.
According to the survey, in 2026, hybrid work will become a 'key differentiator.' Companies with strict return-to-office policies may find themselves struggling to attract younger talent.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Is a toxic boss ruining your life? Here's what to do about it, before things get worse
Is a toxic boss ruining your life? Here's what to do about it, before things get worse

New York Post

time04-07-2025

  • New York Post

Is a toxic boss ruining your life? Here's what to do about it, before things get worse

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Yahoo

time03-07-2025

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What is polyworking? Half of workers do it, survey shows

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Gen Z is ditching college for ‘more secure' trade jobs—but building inspectors, electricians and plumbers actually have the worst unemployment
Gen Z is ditching college for ‘more secure' trade jobs—but building inspectors, electricians and plumbers actually have the worst unemployment

Yahoo

time02-07-2025

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Gen Z is ditching college for ‘more secure' trade jobs—but building inspectors, electricians and plumbers actually have the worst unemployment

With AI coming for white collar work, Gen Z have been ditching college and corner office ambitions, in favor of taking up traditional trades like welding, plumbing, and carpentry. But they're in for a rude awakening: high unemployment rates, unhappiness and automation risks. Trade jobs are having a moment. Touted as the smarter, safer alternative to 'irrelevant' overpriced degrees and entry level white-collar jobs (which tech CEOs warn could soon to be swallowed by AI), traditional manual work is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z. Around 78% of Americans say they've noticed a spike in young people turning to jobs like carpentry, electrical work and welding, according to a 2024 Harris Poll for Intuit Credit Karma. They're not wrong. Trade school enrollment really has been surging post-pandemic, even outpacing university enrollment. And it makes sense: six-figure salaries without student loans, the freedom to work for yourself, and hands-on, real-world skills that can't be outsourced to a chatbot. But new research suggests that the reality isn't as stable—or as future-proof—as it's being pitched. According to a new WalletHub study ranking the best and worst entry-level U.S. jobs in 2025, trade roles dominate the bottom of the list. Welders, automotive mechanics, boilermakers, and drafters all rank among the least promising career starters. Worse still, jobs like building inspectors, electricians, and plumbers are tied to the highest unemployment rate in the entire study at 7.2%—more than three times that of entry-level office jobs like budget analysts or financial analysts, which sit closer to 2.0%. Welder Computer Numeric Control Machine Programmer Mechanical Drafter Automotive Mechanic Boilermaker Emergency Dispatcher Architectural Drafter Telecommunications Technician Benefits Administrator Tool and Die Maker According to the researchers, these roles scored poorly due to limited job availability and weak growth potential, as well as their potentially hazardous nature. Plus, while you'd assume the physical nature of trade work makes them immune to automation, WalletHub's analyst Chip Lupo tells Fortune that the data shows they're also vulnerable. 'New technologies like prefabrication and robotics are starting to take over parts of the workload, which can reduce demand,' Lupo explained. Just like office workers who are experiencing mass layoffs and are at the mercy of recessions, rate hikes, and demand, so too are tradies. 'Trade jobs are closely tied to industries like construction and manufacturing, which means they are sensitive to changes in the economy. When these industries slow down, projects often get delayed or canceled, which can lead to job losses,' Lupo added. 'On top of that, some trade jobs are seasonal, which means that bad weather or off-peak months can dry up construction and maintenance work for several weeks.' But there is one trade job that stands out for its stability amid the chaos: Geotechnical engineers, mine engineers and drilling engineers have the longest median tenure with their employers—2.1 times higher than that of industrial designers, interior designers, PR specialists, technical writers, and web writers, which rank among the shortest. Of course, not everyone is becoming a tradie for the money. Gen Zers previously told Fortune that a key element is having the freedom to be their own boss and not be chained to a desk. But in reality, it might not actually make them happier than a nine-to-five office job. That's because those freedoms come at a cost: long hours and manual work. Another study ranked electricians as the least happy workers of all. According to the research, the physically demanding nature of the job and 40-plus hour workweeks weren't made up for by the just 'decent' salary. Construction workers, warehouse managers, and construction project managers also made the list of unhappiest jobs for having 'unpredictable hours,' topped with their roles being stressful and taxing. Alarmingly, not a single trade job made the list of happiest jobs. Have you gone down the traditional trade jobs route and now regret it? Fortune wants to hear from you. Get in touch: This story was originally featured on

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