Students, employers not always on the same page about workforce readiness

When college students flock back to campus every fall, most are hoping to ready themselves for the world of work once they graduate. But will they be adequately prepared? Recent surveys show many employers have doubts.

What do students think?

A national survey of more than 2,000 college juniors and seniors released in May finds a disconnect between how students feel and how employers feel.

The survey by talent solutions company Seramount found that 72% of the juniors and seniors polled feel very confident that they’re on the right path to landing a job aligned with their career goals, and 70% believe they have a strong understanding of which jobs or career paths would be a good fit for them. In addition, 88% of the students surveyed feel their coursework is adequately preparing them for entry-level roles in their chosen fields.

Those figures contrast with the results of a 2024 survey of hiring managers by Intelligent.com in which more than half said recent college grads are unprepared for the workforce.

The Seramount report, “From Coursework to Careers: Bridge the Gap Between Employer Needs and Student Preparation,” says students’ confidence may be the result of faulty perceptions.

“Many students may base their assumptions about career readiness on classroom instruction, speaking with their family, or anecdotal information from peers and professors,” the report says. “This approach can be misleading, as it doesn’t necessarily reflect the demands of the modern workplace.”