Gen Z graduates eye careers in education — or start their own companies

The new generation of Gen Z graduates want flexibility, must work well with diverse colleagues and need to know how to use Excel. That’s according to a report from LinkedIn, which analysed the entry-level job market in the UK.

What’s more, Gen Z grads favour safe choices like education over all other sectors, and aren’t shy about starting up their own companies on the side.

LinkedIn’s report also suggests that after post-pandemic upheaval — including the so-called Great Resignation — the jobs market has calmed down.

Analytical skills were the most frequently mentioned requirement, in finance and data in particular, followed by “diversity”. LinkedIn helpfully explains that diversity refers to “a job candidate’s ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds and cultures.”

The third most requested skill? Being able to use Microsoft Excel.

Fastest-growing grad jobs

The fastest-growing job titles are a wild mix — though that may be down to methodology. LinkedIn ranks these roles by looking at the first position held by a person after graduation and comparing the hiring rates for that job to the previous year.

Under that methodology, the fastest-growing “first job” is solicitor, followed by “founder” and then paramedic. Unpick meaning from that trio if you can.

LinkedIn argues the high growth in “founders” could be explained by research that suggests Gen Z is “more likely than any other generation to make side hustles a full-time gig”. In other words, this could reflect a rise in sole traders and small-business owners rather than CEOs at tech startups.

Those jobs were followed by more traditional roles, including finance specialists, auditors, editors, marketing specialists, system engineers, research analysts and investment banking analysts. So, finance and tech remain growth areas.

However, the fastest-growing industry was education. Why so popular? LinkedIn’s career expert Charlotte Davies told Fortune it could be about summers off.

“We know that the top priorities for professionals are compensation, work-life balance and opportunities to develop — these factors will be crucial for attracting and retaining top talent across all industries,” Davies said.

Gen Z graduates more likely to work on-site

Most work remains on-site only, LinkedIn noted — paramedics and primary school teachers generally need to show up in person, after all. But despite Gen Z prioritising workplace flexibility, entry-level jobs are less likely to offer remote or hybrid options.

According to LinkedIn’s research, 17% of entry-level jobs posted on the site offered work-from-home possibilities, versus 28% for mid-senior-level roles. Perhaps that’s good news for early career workers looking to build skills and make connections, as lack of mentorship is one downside of the rise of home working.

“We know this generation of new grads value flexibility; however, our data shows an overall trend towards significantly lower hybrid and remote work flexibility for entry-level jobs,” Davies said.

“For young professionals in particular, in-person work can provide access to valuable learning and development opportunities, a chance to connect and build meaningful relationships and feel part of the workplace community.”

According to LinkedIn, a third of jobs listed for early career research analysts offered hybrid working, on par with those who started their own businesses.