New college grads would rather physically work at the job site, not remotely
When it comes to work environment, Class of 2023 new college graduates prefer to work in person rather than virtually, according to research conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Data provided by more than 2,300 bachelor’s level graduating seniors taking part in NACE’s 2023 Student Survey show that more than half (51%) said they would like to work fully in person, and another sizable chunk (42%) said they would prefer a hybrid arrangement—splitting their time between in-person and remote work. Just a handful (7%) said they want to work exclusively in a virtual environment.
“Coming off the pandemic, Class of 2023 college graduates are keenly aware of the value of personal interaction, especially since operating virtually was the norm for a sustained period of time, and the need for work/life balance,” says Shawn VanDerziel, NACE executive director.
Although the college Class of 2023 is entering a labor market characterized by record low levels of unemployment and robust hiring, new college graduates still prioritize job security when they are considering their opportunities.
“Job security is among the most important attributes new graduates consider. Their focus on this is likely the result of experiencing the impacts of the pandemic as well as more recent speculations about a recession,” explains VanDerziel.
In addition to job security, new graduates also prize friendly co-workers, the opportunity to develop job-specific and applied skills, the ability to integrate work/family responsibilities, and key benefits. (See Figure 1.)
About the 2023 Student Survey: NACE’s 2023 Student Survey was conducted from March 15, 2023, to May 19, 2023. Overall, 18,966 bachelor’s degree-level students took part; among these were 2,307 students who identified as graduating seniors. A report based on results from the survey will be available in the fall.
(Source: NACE) / (Cover photo, Image credit: Twitter)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
