Series 3

The Future of Entry-Level Employment

Getting your first real job has always been hard. But something has changed — and it is not just the economy or the job market. The system that used to help people move from learning into work has broken down.

For most of the last century, entry-level employment did more than pay a salary. It taught you how to do the job, showed your employer what you were capable of, connected you to mentors and colleagues, helped you figure out who you were professionally, and shared the risk of the learning curve between you and the organization. That bundle of support no longer reliably exists.

Series 3 encompasses seven reports exploring why the entry-level pathway has eroded and what it will take to rebuild it. These reports will be released throughout 2026.