Surveys: Hiring Up…But Employers Seeking New Skills
If you’re graduating in 2026, there’s some good news on the career front. It looks like the job market might finally be tilting in the job candidate’s favor.
After two slow years and early predictions of a flat hiring season, employers now say they expect to increase hiring for new grads by 5.6%, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, also known as NACE.
This could make a big difference for business students eyeing competitive roles in finance, consulting, tech, and operations. The biggest boosts are coming from industries like information, engineering services, wholesale trade, construction, and professional services which together make up a huge share of entry‑level business hiring.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FINDINGS
Zooming out, it helps to understand how NACE gathered and analyzed their data. NACE’s Job Outlook 2026 Spring Update, sponsored by Jobscan, is one of the most trusted sources in college career research. The survey gathered responses from 185 employers between February 12 and March 17, 2026, including 142 NACE member organizations. By reporting the median hiring projection instead of the mean, the update avoids outliers and offers a clearer view of what employers actually plan to do.
What really stands out in the data is the momentum behind the hiring increase. Company growth and succession planning are the biggest drivers. Namely, the largest organizations with more than 5,000 employees are leading the way with an 8.7% hiring jump. That’s especially promising for business students with their sights set on companies like Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, and Accenture.
NACE also saw evidence of employers expecting to increase internship hiring by nearly 4%. As they historically have been, it seems as though Internships are still one of the strongest pipelines into full‑time roles.
THE NEW BAR FOR SKILLS IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET
In a separate new NACE report, it appears that while employers are ramping up hiring, they are also raising the bar on their candidate expectations. Employers are looking for candidates who both have and can prove an extensive list of skills. Increasingly, that list includes skills in AI regardless of the industry, shares
When looking at resumes, NACE found that 31% of employers are seeking candidates with AI skills. Megan Cerullo with CBS News says that employers are putting AI skills at the top of their wish lists today. She quotes LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher, who says, “This is not as scary as it sounds.” You don’t need to a programmer to show competence with AI. Even being able to use it to transcribe notes or manage your calendar usually checks the boxes for employers.”
More than half of employers are citing 10+ skills they want to see on a resume. Teamwork, problem-solving, and communication top the list, followed by technical skills, analytical ability, and a strong work ethic.
“It’s important for students to reflect on their academic, experiential, extracurricular, and work experiences to identify the skills they have sharpened and connect them to the jobs for which they are applying,” says NACE CEO Shawn VanDerziel explains.
For business students preparing to enter the workforce, it looks like the job market is improving, but expectations are rising with it.
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