Entry-level hiring is being reshaped by skills listed in job ads, with digital literacy showing up in 70% of entry-level requirements and soft skills such as communication appearing in 80% of postings. The applicant mix is also changing fast, because 58% of entry-level hires are under 25 and Gen Z makes up 62% of new entry-level workers. This breakdown connects those shifts to education, regional representation, and the specific abilities employers are asking for.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
In 2023, entry-level hiring is Gen Z driven, highly educated, and skills focused, with remote and digital literacy leading.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics and Skills25 stats
01
58% of entry-level hires are under 25 years old in 2023
02
Gen Z makes up 62% of new entry-level workforce 2023
03
52% of entry-level workers have bachelor's degree minimum 2023
04
Women represent 51% of entry-level office jobs 2023
05
Hispanic/Latino entry-level participation up 20% to 22% 2023
06
45% of entry-level require high school diploma only 2023
07
Skills gap: 70% employers seek digital literacy for entry-level 2023
08
Soft skills top 80% of entry-level requirements like communication 2023
09
35% entry-level workers from urban areas vs 25% rural 2023
10
Veterans fill 5% of entry-level corporate jobs 2023
11
28% entry-level have some college no degree 2023
12
Coding skills demanded in 40% non-tech entry-level 2023
13
Bilingual requirements in 22% entry-level service jobs 2023
14
65% entry-level prioritize work-life balance per surveys 2023
15
AI familiarity needed in 15% entry-level roles 2023 emerging
16
Customer service exp valued in 55% entry-level apps 2023
17
42% entry-level demographic is white non-Hispanic 2023
18
Mental health support sought by 60% young entry-level 2023
19
Project management cert boosts entry-level by 30% 2023
20
Diversity hiring: 75% companies target underrepresented in entry-level 2023
21
Remote-ready skills like Zoom in 90% entry-level postings 2023
22
Sustainability knowledge rising to 12% entry-level req 2023
23
18-24 age group 70% of fast food entry-level 2023
24
Immigrants fill 16% entry-level manual labor 2023
25
Leadership potential assessed in 50% entry-level interviews 2023
Interpretation
Demographics 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.
02 · Category
Employment Rates23 stats
01
65% of recent college grads employed in entry-level roles within 6 months 2023
02
Entry-level unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds: 8.2% in 2023 US
03
72% of entry-level hires are Gen Z in 2023 per SHRM
04
Black recent grads entry-level employment rate 55% vs 68% white 2023
05
Women hold 48% of entry-level professional jobs 2023
06
STEM entry-level employment rate 85% for grads 2023
07
Liberal arts grads entry-level placement 62% within 3 months 2023
08
Vocational training boosts entry-level employment by 25% 2023
09
Bootcamp grads 78% employed in entry-level tech within 6 months 2023
10
Intern experience increases entry-level hire rate by 40% 2023
11
Remote entry-level employment grew 30% YoY in 2023
12
Gig platform employment for entry-level: 45% of 18-24 yo 2023
13
Public sector entry-level fill rate 92% in 2023
14
Private sector entry-level turnover 25% in first year 2023
15
Manufacturing entry-level employment up 15% post-2022 2023
16
Healthcare entry-level jobs filled 88% rate 2023 shortage
17
Retail entry-level seasonal employment peaked at 700k Dec 2023
18
Tech layoffs impacted 12% of entry-level hires in 2023
19
Underemployment in entry-level for grads: 41% 2023
20
Long-term unemployed entry-level rehire rate 35% 2023
21
Entry-level jobs represent 18% of total US employment in 2023
22
55% of entry-level positions require no prior experience 2023
23
Apprenticeship programs placed 500k in entry-level 2023
Interpretation
Employment 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.
03 · Category
Industry Distribution27 stats
01
Retail sector dominates with 25% of entry-level jobs in US 2023
02
Healthcare support holds 18% share of entry-level positions 2023
03
Tech/IT accounts for 12% of entry-level opportunities 2023
04
Administrative/professional services: 15% of entry-level 2023
05
Manufacturing/blue-collar: 10% entry-level jobs 2023
06
Hospitality/food service: 14% share entry-level 2023
07
Finance/insurance: 7% of entry-level roles 2023
08
Education: 9% entry-level teacher/support 2023
09
Logistics/transport: 8% warehouse/delivery entry-level 2023
10
Construction: 6% laborer/apprentice entry-level 2023
11
Marketing/advertising: 5% coordinator roles entry-level 2023
12
Sales/wholesale: 11% rep positions entry-level 2023
13
Government/public admin: 7% clerk/officer entry-level 2023
14
Nonprofits/social services: 4% aide roles 2023
15
Energy/utilities: 3% technician entry-level 2023
16
Media/entertainment: 2.5% production assistant 2023
17
Agriculture: 2% farm worker entry-level 2023
18
Real estate: 1.5% agent assistant 2023
19
Automotive: 4% service advisor entry-level 2023
20
Telecom: 2% support tech entry-level 2023
21
Biotech/pharma: 3.5% lab tech 2023 entry-level
22
E-commerce: 9% fulfillment roles entry-level 2023 boom
23
Gaming/esports: 1% junior dev entry-level 2023
24
Fashion/retail luxury: 2.5% sales assoc 2023
25
Sports/fitness: 1.8% coach aide 2023 entry-level
26
Legal services: 3% paralegal entry-level 2023
27
Consulting: 4.5% analyst entry-level 2023
Interpretation
Industry 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Job Availability30 stats
01
In 2023, the US had approximately 4.5 million entry-level job openings across all sectors
02
Entry-level positions accounted for 22% of total US job postings on Indeed in Q4 2023
03
LinkedIn reported 1.8 million entry-level job listings globally in 2023, with 60% in North America
04
Glassdoor data shows 750,000 entry-level jobs posted in the US during 2022, up 12% from 2021
05
ZipRecruiter listed over 2.1 million entry-level opportunities in Q1 2024
06
CareerBuilder found 1.2 million entry-level postings in retail for 2023
07
Monster.com tracked 900,000 entry-level jobs in healthcare support in 2023
08
Handshake platform had 3.2 million entry-level jobs for college grads in 2023
09
SimplyHired reported 1.5 million entry-level admin jobs available in US 2023
10
Dice.com noted 450,000 entry-level IT jobs posted in 2023
11
In Europe, entry-level job openings reached 2.8 million in 2023 per Eurostat
12
Australia had 650,000 entry-level vacancies in 2023 via SEEK
13
Canada posted 550,000 entry-level jobs on Job Bank in 2023
14
UK had 1.1 million entry-level roles on Reed.co.uk in 2023
15
India saw 4 million entry-level jobs on Naukri.com in 2023
16
Brazil reported 1.9 million entry-level openings via Catho in 2023
17
Remote entry-level jobs surged to 800,000 on FlexJobs in 2023
18
Freelance entry-level gigs hit 1.4 million on Upwork in 2023
19
Gig economy entry-level roles: 2.5 million via Uber/DoorDash 2023
20
Government entry-level jobs: 350,000 US federal postings 2023
21
Nonprofit sector had 280,000 entry-level positions in 2023
22
Education entry-level jobs: 420,000 teacher aide roles 2023
23
Hospitality entry-level: 1.6 million openings post-COVID 2023
24
Manufacturing entry-level: 890,000 skilled trade starters 2023
25
Finance entry-level: 320,000 bank teller roles 2023
26
Marketing entry-level: 410,000 coordinator positions 2023
27
Sales entry-level: 1.3 million rep jobs 2023
28
Customer service entry-level: 2.0 million openings 2023
29
Logistics entry-level: 760,000 warehouse roles 2023
30
Construction entry-level: 510,000 laborer positions 2023
Interpretation
Job 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.
05 · Category
Salary and Compensation30 stats
01
The average starting salary for entry-level software developers in the US is $75,200annually as of 2023
02
Entry-level registered nurses earn a median of $68,000per year in 2023
03
US entry-level accountants average $56,400starting salary in 2023
04
Marketing coordinators at entry-level make $45,700median in 2023
05
Entry-level data analysts earn $62,500on average in 2023
06
Retail sales associates start at $29,000annually in 2023 US average
07
Customer service reps entry-level: $36,800median 2023
08
Administrative assistants entry-level average $38,200in 2023
09
Warehouse workers entry-level: $34,500starting wage 2023
10
Bank tellers entry-level median $34,200in 2023
11
Graphic designers entry-level: $48,900average 2023
12
Paralegals entry-level earn $49,300median 2023
13
Human resources assistants: $42,100starting 2023
14
Sales representatives entry-level: $47,000average 2023
15
Lab technicians entry-level: $41,800median 2023
16
Pharmacy technicians: $35,200starting salary 2023
17
Web developers entry-level: $64,200average 2023
18
Teachers aides entry-level: $29,900median 2023
19
Entry-level bonuses average 5-10% of salary in tech, $5,000 typical 2023
20
Health insurance coverage for entry-level: 75% of positions offer it 2023
21
401k matching starts at 3% for 40% of entry-level jobs 2023
22
Paid time off averages 10 days for entry-level in 2023
23
Remote work premium: +$2,000avg salary for entry-level remote 2023
24
Gig economy hourly entry-level: $18.50median 2023 US
25
Internships convert to full-time entry-level at $50k avg 2023
26
Union entry-level wages 15% higher than non-union 2023
27
Location impact: NYC entry-level $10k higher than national avg 2023
28
SF Bay Area entry-level tech: $85,000median 2023
29
Austin TX entry-level avg $55,2002023 growth hub
30
Chicago entry-level finance $52,000median 2023
Interpretation
Salary 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Entry Level Jobs Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/entry-level-jobs-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Entry Level Jobs Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/entry-level-jobs-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Entry Level Jobs Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/entry-level-jobs-statistics.
Sources & references
62 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
shopify.com