Amid AI Boom, 59% of Recent Grads Are Struggling To Find Entry-Level Jobs

Indeed Flex survey of recent grads reveals 46% are turning to temporary work out of concern that AI is replacing full-time jobs.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent college and university graduates are changing their job-seeking behavior as they contend with a contracting entry-level labor market, according to new research by Indeed Flex, the online marketplace for flexible and temporary work. In a survey of nearly 1,200 recent grads, 59% report it has been very challenging to find a full-time, entry-level job this year and only 9% found one easily.

Grads point to a lack of experience (25%) and too much competition (24%) as their top challenges in finding a job right now. And they see AI exacerbating these barriers to employment: 79% believe AI could be reducing the number of entry-level jobs in their field.

To secure a source of income in this saturated entry-level market, recent grads are becoming more flexible in their job-seeking approach. Findings include:

• Financial security over dream job: Nearly half (49%) of respondents are open to any job that pays well.
• Flexible work as an alternative to full-time: 46% say concern over AI has led them to consider temporary or flexible jobs instead of traditional ones. 20% are currently seeking remote/freelancing roles, 17% are seeking temporary or seasonal work, and 13% are seeking gig or contract-based work.
• AI upskilling demand: While most grads recognize AI's growing influence over the job market, 54% have not received training or upskilling in AI-related tools or knowledge. Some are taking upskilling into their own hands, with 22% saying they've self-taught their current AI expertise.

"We empathize with the challenges recent grads are facing in this tight job market," said Novo Constare, CEO and Co-founder of Indeed Flex. "At the moment, temporary work is helping people make ends meet and also gives them flexibility to navigate their difficult job search."

To learn more about flexible work, visit indeedflex.com.

Survey Methodology:

Indeed Flex conducted a survey of 1,195 recent college graduates on Aug. 8, 2025. Half of respondents were based in the US and half in the UK. 87% of all respondents graduated within the last two years, and 40% graduated within the last six months.

About Indeed Flex:
Indeed Flex is transforming temporary staffing through a simple yet powerful approach. By empowering job seekers with ownership, control, and choice over where, when, and how they work, the platform delivers an engaged, high-quality, and reliable workforce for businesses. With a fully integrated Vendor Management System (VMS) and workforce management tools, businesses gain full visibility and control over staffing, optimizing costs, improving efficiency, and boosting productivity.

Visit IndeedFlex.com for more information.

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SOURCE Indeed Flex