College grads will be in high demand this year as companies look to hire for entry-level positions. According to a new survey from The Harris Poll, commissioned by Express Employment International, 56% of U.S. hiring managers plan to hire recent college graduates in 2023. This is up from 51% last year, and the highest level in three years.
The share of companies looking to hire entry-level employees (63%) has increased since the first half of 2022 (52%). Demand will be lower for higher-level positions:
- Mid-level positions (58%)
- Individual contributors (33%)
- Senior-level employees (28%)
- C-suite executives (11%)
More than 8 in 10 (83%) hiring managers say they will hire full-time employees in 2023, while almost three-quarters (73%) are willing to hire contingent workers to meet their business needs. More than one-quarter (28%) already have plans to hire seasonal, temporary, or contract workers. Departments that are expanding include customer service (29%), general labor (27%), sales (26%), and IT/technology support (23%).
