With over 4.5 million entry-level job openings in the U.S. alone last year, the door to your career is wide open.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the US had approximately 4.5 million entry-level job openings across all sectors
- Entry-level positions accounted for 22% of total US job postings on Indeed in Q4 2023
- LinkedIn reported 1.8 million entry-level job listings globally in 2023, with 60% in North America
- The average starting salary for entry-level software developers in the US is $75,200 annually as of 2023
- Entry-level registered nurses earn a median of $68,000 per year in 2023
- US entry-level accountants average $56,400 starting salary in 2023
- 65% of recent college grads employed in entry-level roles within 6 months 2023
- Entry-level unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds: 8.2% in 2023 US
- 72% of entry-level hires are Gen Z in 2023 per SHRM
- Retail sector dominates with 25% of entry-level jobs in US 2023
- Healthcare support holds 18% share of entry-level positions 2023
- Tech/IT accounts for 12% of entry-level opportunities 2023
- 58% of entry-level hires are under 25 years old in 2023
- Gen Z makes up 62% of new entry-level workforce 2023
- 52% of entry-level workers have bachelor's degree minimum 2023
Entry-level job opportunities are abundant across many industries and locations worldwide.
Demographics and Skills
158% of entry-level hires are under 25 years old in 2023
Verified2Gen Z makes up 62% of new entry-level workforce 2023
Verified352% of entry-level workers have bachelor's degree minimum 2023
Verified4Women represent 51% of entry-level office jobs 2023
Directional5Hispanic/Latino entry-level participation up 20% to 22% 2023
Single source645% of entry-level require high school diploma only 2023
Verified7Skills gap: 70% employers seek digital literacy for entry-level 2023
Verified8Soft skills top 80% of entry-level requirements like communication 2023
Verified935% entry-level workers from urban areas vs 25% rural 2023
Directional10Veterans fill 5% of entry-level corporate jobs 2023
Single source1128% entry-level have some college no degree 2023
Verified12Coding skills demanded in 40% non-tech entry-level 2023
Verified13Bilingual requirements in 22% entry-level service jobs 2023
Verified1465% entry-level prioritize work-life balance per surveys 2023
Directional15AI familiarity needed in 15% entry-level roles 2023 emerging
Single source16Customer service exp valued in 55% entry-level apps 2023
Verified1742% entry-level demographic is white non-Hispanic 2023
Verified18Mental health support sought by 60% young entry-level 2023
Verified19Project management cert boosts entry-level by 30% 2023
Directional20Diversity hiring: 75% companies target underrepresented in entry-level 2023
Single source21Remote-ready skills like Zoom in 90% entry-level postings 2023
Verified22Sustainability knowledge rising to 12% entry-level req 2023
Verified2318-24 age group 70% of fast food entry-level 2023
Verified24Immigrants fill 16% entry-level manual labor 2023
Directional25Leadership potential assessed in 50% entry-level interviews 2023
Single sourceDemographics and Skills Interpretation
Entry-level hiring is no longer a youthful game of fetch-the-coffee, but a high-stakes match of digital literacy, diversity, and demanding work-life boundaries, all while Gen Z politely revolutionizes the office.
Employment Rates
165% of recent college grads employed in entry-level roles within 6 months 2023
Verified2Entry-level unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds: 8.2% in 2023 US
Verified372% of entry-level hires are Gen Z in 2023 per SHRM
Verified4Black recent grads entry-level employment rate 55% vs 68% white 2023
Directional5Women hold 48% of entry-level professional jobs 2023
Single source6STEM entry-level employment rate 85% for grads 2023
Verified7Liberal arts grads entry-level placement 62% within 3 months 2023
Verified8Vocational training boosts entry-level employment by 25% 2023
Verified9Bootcamp grads 78% employed in entry-level tech within 6 months 2023
Directional10Intern experience increases entry-level hire rate by 40% 2023
Single source11Remote entry-level employment grew 30% YoY in 2023
Verified12Gig platform employment for entry-level: 45% of 18-24 yo 2023
Verified13Public sector entry-level fill rate 92% in 2023
Verified14Private sector entry-level turnover 25% in first year 2023
Directional15Manufacturing entry-level employment up 15% post-2022 2023
Single source16Healthcare entry-level jobs filled 88% rate 2023 shortage
Verified17Retail entry-level seasonal employment peaked at 700k Dec 2023
Verified18Tech layoffs impacted 12% of entry-level hires in 2023
Verified19Underemployment in entry-level for grads: 41% 2023
Directional20Long-term unemployed entry-level rehire rate 35% 2023
Single source21Entry-level jobs represent 18% of total US employment in 2023
Verified2255% of entry-level positions require no prior experience 2023
Verified23Apprenticeship programs placed 500k in entry-level 2023
VerifiedEmployment Rates Interpretation
The entry-level job market is a glitch in the matrix where STEM grads waltz into roles while Black graduates face systemic hurdles, proving the "first step" on the career ladder is neither equal nor equally sturdy for everyone.
Industry Distribution
1Retail sector dominates with 25% of entry-level jobs in US 2023
Verified2Healthcare support holds 18% share of entry-level positions 2023
Verified3Tech/IT accounts for 12% of entry-level opportunities 2023
Verified4Administrative/professional services: 15% of entry-level 2023
Directional5Manufacturing/blue-collar: 10% entry-level jobs 2023
Single source6Hospitality/food service: 14% share entry-level 2023
Verified7Finance/insurance: 7% of entry-level roles 2023
Verified8Education: 9% entry-level teacher/support 2023
Verified9Logistics/transport: 8% warehouse/delivery entry-level 2023
Directional10Construction: 6% laborer/apprentice entry-level 2023
Single source11Marketing/advertising: 5% coordinator roles entry-level 2023
Verified12Sales/wholesale: 11% rep positions entry-level 2023
Verified13Government/public admin: 7% clerk/officer entry-level 2023
Verified14Nonprofits/social services: 4% aide roles 2023
Directional15Energy/utilities: 3% technician entry-level 2023
Single source16Media/entertainment: 2.5% production assistant 2023
Verified17Agriculture: 2% farm worker entry-level 2023
Verified18Real estate: 1.5% agent assistant 2023
Verified19Automotive: 4% service advisor entry-level 2023
Directional20Telecom: 2% support tech entry-level 2023
Single source21Biotech/pharma: 3.5% lab tech 2023 entry-level
Verified22E-commerce: 9% fulfillment roles entry-level 2023 boom
Verified23Gaming/esports: 1% junior dev entry-level 2023
Verified24Fashion/retail luxury: 2.5% sales assoc 2023
Directional25Sports/fitness: 1.8% coach aide 2023 entry-level
Single source26Legal services: 3% paralegal entry-level 2023
Verified27Consulting: 4.5% analyst entry-level 2023
VerifiedIndustry Distribution Interpretation
The American dream may begin with a name tag and a shopping cart, but thankfully it can quickly branch out into saving lives, debugging code, or explaining a deductible, proving that while we all start somewhere, we certainly don't have to stay there.
Job Availability
1In 2023, the US had approximately 4.5 million entry-level job openings across all sectors
Verified2Entry-level positions accounted for 22% of total US job postings on Indeed in Q4 2023
Verified3LinkedIn reported 1.8 million entry-level job listings globally in 2023, with 60% in North America
Verified4Glassdoor data shows 750,000 entry-level jobs posted in the US during 2022, up 12% from 2021
Directional5ZipRecruiter listed over 2.1 million entry-level opportunities in Q1 2024
Single source6CareerBuilder found 1.2 million entry-level postings in retail for 2023
Verified7Monster.com tracked 900,000 entry-level jobs in healthcare support in 2023
Verified8Handshake platform had 3.2 million entry-level jobs for college grads in 2023
Verified9SimplyHired reported 1.5 million entry-level admin jobs available in US 2023
Directional10Dice.com noted 450,000 entry-level IT jobs posted in 2023
Single source11In Europe, entry-level job openings reached 2.8 million in 2023 per Eurostat
Verified12Australia had 650,000 entry-level vacancies in 2023 via SEEK
Verified13Canada posted 550,000 entry-level jobs on Job Bank in 2023
Verified14UK had 1.1 million entry-level roles on Reed.co.uk in 2023
Directional15India saw 4 million entry-level jobs on Naukri.com in 2023
Single source16Brazil reported 1.9 million entry-level openings via Catho in 2023
Verified17Remote entry-level jobs surged to 800,000 on FlexJobs in 2023
Verified18Freelance entry-level gigs hit 1.4 million on Upwork in 2023
Verified19Gig economy entry-level roles: 2.5 million via Uber/DoorDash 2023
Directional20Government entry-level jobs: 350,000 US federal postings 2023
Single source21Nonprofit sector had 280,000 entry-level positions in 2023
Verified22Education entry-level jobs: 420,000 teacher aide roles 2023
Verified23Hospitality entry-level: 1.6 million openings post-COVID 2023
Verified24Manufacturing entry-level: 890,000 skilled trade starters 2023
Directional25Finance entry-level: 320,000 bank teller roles 2023
Single source26Marketing entry-level: 410,000 coordinator positions 2023
Verified27Sales entry-level: 1.3 million rep jobs 2023
Verified28Customer service entry-level: 2.0 million openings 2023
Verified29Logistics entry-level: 760,000 warehouse roles 2023
Directional30Construction entry-level: 510,000 laborer positions 2023
Single sourceJob Availability Interpretation
Despite the overwhelming and often contradictory data, the entry-level job market globally is a paradox of plenty, telling fresh graduates there are millions of doors open while neglecting to mention most come with seven different locks and a landlord who lives in another country.
Salary and Compensation
1The average starting salary for entry-level software developers in the US is $75,200 annually as of 2023
Verified2Entry-level registered nurses earn a median of $68,000 per year in 2023
Verified3US entry-level accountants average $56,400 starting salary in 2023
Verified4Marketing coordinators at entry-level make $45,700 median in 2023
Directional5Entry-level data analysts earn $62,500 on average in 2023
Single source6Retail sales associates start at $29,000 annually in 2023 US average
Verified7Customer service reps entry-level: $36,800 median 2023
Verified8Administrative assistants entry-level average $38,200 in 2023
Verified9Warehouse workers entry-level: $34,500 starting wage 2023
Directional10Bank tellers entry-level median $34,200 in 2023
Single source11Graphic designers entry-level: $48,900 average 2023
Verified12Paralegals entry-level earn $49,300 median 2023
Verified13Human resources assistants: $42,100 starting 2023
Verified14Sales representatives entry-level: $47,000 average 2023
Directional15Lab technicians entry-level: $41,800 median 2023
Single source16Pharmacy technicians: $35,200 starting salary 2023
Verified17Web developers entry-level: $64,200 average 2023
Verified18Teachers aides entry-level: $29,900 median 2023
Verified19Entry-level bonuses average 5-10% of salary in tech, $5,000 typical 2023
Directional20Health insurance coverage for entry-level: 75% of positions offer it 2023
Single source21401k matching starts at 3% for 40% of entry-level jobs 2023
Verified22Paid time off averages 10 days for entry-level in 2023
Verified23Remote work premium: +$2,000 avg salary for entry-level remote 2023
Verified24Gig economy hourly entry-level: $18.50 median 2023 US
Directional25Internships convert to full-time entry-level at $50k avg 2023
Single source26Union entry-level wages 15% higher than non-union 2023
Verified27Location impact: NYC entry-level $10k higher than national avg 2023
Verified28SF Bay Area entry-level tech: $85,000 median 2023
Verified29Austin TX entry-level avg $55,200 2023 growth hub
Directional30Chicago entry-level finance $52,000 median 2023
Single sourceSalary and Compensation Interpretation
The data paints a clear, if slightly mercenary, picture: your starting salary is less about your inherent worth and more about whether your job title ends in 'developer,' 'nurse,' or 'associate,' with the tech sector casually sipping a latte while others line up for the office coffee.
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