Class of 2023 Graduates Can Expect to Work In Person or Hybrid

BETHLEHEM, PA—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. 

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 2023 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.

About the National Association of Colleges and Employers: Established in 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is the only professional association in the United States that connects nearly 11,000 college career services professionals, more than 3,600 university relations and recruiting professionals, and more than 400 business solution providers that serve this community.

NACE is the premier source of market research on career readiness, the employment of recent college graduates, and the college-to-career transition. NACE forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.

NACE offers its members unparalleled research, networking and professional development opportunities, guidance on standards and ethics, and advocacy on key issues. For more information, visit www.naceweb.org. NACE maintains a virtual press room for the media.