Early-career hiring remains active but increasingly selective, according to Drexel's 2026 College Hiring Outlook

The 2025 labor market was mixed, shaped by economic pressures such as inflation, interest rate changes and tariffs, which leaves the economic outlook for 2026 uncertain. This uncertainty has led to an active but increasingly selective early-career hiring landscape, according to Drexel University’s 2026 College Hiring Outlook. The annual report from Drexel’s LeBow College of Business revealed the trends and challenges businesses are facing when it comes to hiring, especially hiring recent graduates.