Will the Class of 2023 grads be working 100% in the office, working 100% remotely online, or both?

(Most entry-level college hires will start their careers in the office—at least for part of the time. Image credit: NACE)

Due to the global pandemic that struck beginning in 2020, many employers had their work forces working 100% remotely and online.  As the pandemic began to wane, employers were either demanding that their employees return to the office, allowing their employees to continue working 100% remotely, or in some instances approving a hybrid experience for their people.

Class of 2023 graduates entering the workforce can expect to start their careers working in the office, at least for part of the time, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Results from NACE’s Job Outlook 2023 Spring Update survey show that 42% of new college hires will work in the office full time, while 48% will be working in a hybrid format: part of the time in the office and part of the time virtually. (See Figure 1.)

“This matches up with students’ preferences: Among students responding to NACE’s 2022 Student Survey, 43% wanted to work in person and 47% wanted a hybrid experience,” explains Shawn VanDerziel, NACE executive director. That hybrid experience means that employees will be physically working in the office at some times, and will also have the freedom to be working remotely from home at other times.

The latest findings from NACE’s Job Outlook 2023 Spring Update also reflect that organizations recognize that where someone wants to work can vary by where they are in their career.

“Our research bears this out,” says VanDerziel. “Employers have told us that their more-established employees are more likely to work in a fully remote or a hybrid environment than their new hires. Employers recognize that one size does not fit all.”

About Job Outlook Spring Update: The Job Outlook 2023 Spring Update survey was conducted from February 6 – March 13, 2023. Of the 216 total respondents, 171 were NACE employer members, representing 19.2% of eligible member respondents. The Job Outlook 2023 Spring Update survey was also distributed to nonmember companies; this group provided an additional 45 responses. The survey updates hiring projections for the Class of 2023; those projections were collected from NACE employer members from August 3 – September 16, 2022, and were reported in Job Outlook 2023, which was published in October 2022.

(Source: NACE)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram