New Yorkers Entering The Workforce Face Tough Job Market In 2026

Graduation season is here in New York, and many young adults are getting ready to enter the job market and it feels more competitive than ever.

Searches For Entry Level Jobs Are Surging

According to resume.io, Americans looked for “entry level jobs” more than 1.2 million times in April. The report says rising living costs, workplace stress, and competition for jobs are making it harder for early career workers to find positions where they feel supported.

Google Ranked The Best Company For Young Workers

Researchers looked at nearly 13,000 Glassdoor reviews from employees with zero to two years of experience at major companies. They found Google ranked as the best company overall for early career employee satisfaction in 2026.

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Google got high scores in areas including work life balance, career opportunities, company culture, pay, diversity, and leadership. Other companies ranking near the top included Adobe, Mastercard, American Express, and Apple.

Diversity And Inclusion Matter To Younger Workers

Researchers found six of the top 10 companies received their highest ratings in diversity and inclusion. It suggested younger workers are placing more importance on feeling welcomed, and supported in the workplace.

Walmart Ranked Lowest In The Study

At the bottom of the rankings was Walmart. Many junior employees gave Walmart low scores for senior leadership. Other companies near the bottom included Oracle, Target, T-Mobile, and DXC Technology.

Leadership Remains A Major Concern

The report found that senior leadership was the lowest rated category overall for nearly every company studied. Researchers said that younger employees feel disconnected from leadership teams and want more communication, support, and transparency from management as they begin their careers.