In its latest report, Cengage Group surveyed educators, recent graduates, and employers to uncover where classroom priorities and workforce expectations diverge — and how these gaps are fueling the toughest entry-level job market in five years.
Key Findings
ROI of degrees: 71% of employers now require a two- or four-year degree for entry-level roles (up from 55% last year). Yet only 30% of 2025 grads have landed jobs in their field of study, and nearly half (48%) feel unprepared to even apply.
Workforce development: 53% of educators believe their institution underemphasizes workforce readiness, while 43% say not enough is being done to help students transition into the job market.
Skilling: Just 1% of educators think students should be responsible for learning job-specific skills on their own — but only 29% see teaching workplace skills and etiquette as their responsibility.
AI readiness: 79% of educators agree students should gain AI experience before graduation, but only 37% believe it’s their role to provide it.
Why It Matters
Closing the skills gap will require stronger alignment among educators, employers, and graduates. By building consensus and sharing responsibility, higher education can stay relevant, improve accountability, and better prepare tomorrow’s workforce for a rapidly evolving job market.
Learn more. For a deeper dive into these findings, visit the full Cengage Group report here.
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