Dive Brief:

• High unemployment has recent college graduates applying to tech positions that require experience, a Glassdoor Economic Research study released June 22 revealed.
• As of May, the number of available positions with "entry level" or "new grad" in the job title had decreased 68% from last year, Glassdoor said. "But new grads are still aspiring to work in tech," the company said in a statement. They applied most frequently for software engineering roles, which have a median annual base salary of $94,000. Amazon and Microsoft received the most applications.
• Many are seeking work in New York City, which accounted for 15% of all new grad applications, followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, due to the pandemic, many of the jobs in these cities may begin remotely, according to Glassdoor. 

Dive Insight:

Employers that are still hiring have an increased demand for tech talent during the pandemic, according to various studies.

Hired's State of Remote Work 2020 published in May found that 68% of tech employers surveyed said they are still actively hiring. Because the technology infrastructure of certain verticals, including e-commerce, cybersecurity and delivery services are experiencing great demand and are critical to business success, demand for tech talent remains, Hired said in the report.

As job titles with entry-level positions decrease, per Glassdoor, new grads applying to high-salary jobs at major tech companies may face significant competition: Hired's study found that 43% of tech professionals surveyed were actively searching for new job opportunities. 

Some of the other companies on Glassdoor's list of top employers attracting new grads are focusing on return to work and training. For example, EY, ranked No. 7, announced May 7 its employee-centric Physical Return and Work Reimagined framework for organizations in the wake of the pandemic. Employers must focus on upholding company values, including diversity, equity and inclusion, and commit to putting employee needs first, according to EY. 

Randstad US, ranked No. 9 on Glassdoor's list, made an investment in training talent teams in more than 80 countries. Randstad RiseSmart launched its Randstad RiseSmart University (RSU) in February to provide specialty training, certification programs and various professional courses. Employees also have access to workbooks, videos and assessment via a "learning library."