Beyond the Degree: Why Graduates Struggle to Find Their First Job

Four years of study, a framed degree, and a polished CV should feel like the beginning of a career. Yet for many graduates, the first job search brings repeated applications and little response. The challenge is not always a lack of effort. Employers may be looking for practical experience, workplace skills, and evidence of ability that a degree alone does not necessarily provide.

A Degree Is No Longer a Guarantee

A degree is often seen as a pathway to employment, but many graduates are discovering that finding a job is not that simple. Pakistan’s Labour Force Survey 2024-25 put the overall unemployment rate at 7.1%. Among degree holders, it rose to 10.9%, while people with master’s, MPhil or PhD qualifications faced a rate of 11.7%. 

The challenge may be even greater for recent graduates. A Gallup Pakistan analysis estimated that 32.8% of graduates aged 20 to 24 were unemployed. These figures point to a difficult reality: earning a degree does not guarantee a smooth start to working life. For many young people, the challenge is turning their education into the experience and skills employers are looking for.

The Gender Gap Behind the Numbers

For many women, earning a degree does not guarantee a job. Pakistan’s Labour Force Survey 2024-25 found that around 24% of women with a degree or higher qualification who were in the labour force were unemployed. The rate was considerably lower for men with similar qualifications, showing that highly educated women face greater challenges in finding work.

For a woman who has spent years studying and earning qualifications, entering the workforce can still be difficult. The figures suggest that expanding access to education is not enough on its own. Women also need fair access to job opportunities and workplaces that allow them to build and sustain their careers. 

The Experience Paradox

Many entry-level jobs require previous experience, leaving graduates caught in a frustrating cycle: they need a job to gain experience, but need experience to get a job.

According to Fortune’s report on hiring trends, data show that the share of job postings open to candidates with two to four years of experience fell from 46% in mid-2022 to 40% in mid-2025. Meanwhile, the share seeking at least five years of experience rose from 37% to 42%. This trend, known as ‘experience creep’, means that jobs once considered suitable for early-career workers may increasingly demand more experience.

Some reports suggest that AI is contributing to this shift by taking over routine tasks traditionally assigned to junior employees. However, the evidence is not conclusive. An analysis of 155 million US job postings by researchers at the University of Maryland found no widespread evidence of AI-driven job losses. Entry-level roles accounted for nearly 13% of listings in 2025, up from less than 12% previously, according to The Banner’s report on the research.

These findings offer a more complex picture than the idea that AI is simply eliminating opportunities for graduates. Hiring expectations may be changing, but the evidence remains mixed and largely US-based. For graduates in Pakistan, the experience paradox raises a practical question: how can they demonstrate their abilities when they have not yet had the chance to use them in a professional role?

Turning Education into Employment

A degree provides a foundation, but graduates also need opportunities to gain practical experience and demonstrate their abilities. Internships, independent projects, and professional training can help bridge this gap. Employers, in turn, must create genuine entry-level opportunities and recognize potential alongside experience.

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