New grads put job security over pay as AI and economy raise concerns

• Key Insight: Learn how graduates now prioritize stability over status in early-career choices.
• What's at Stake: Turnover, talent pipelines and employer branding risk from mismatched hiring promises.
• Supporting Data: 67% would accept lower pay for greater long-term job security.
  Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

As graduates prepare to enter an uncertain job market this year, a new survey shows that they are prioritizing stability over status. 

Monster's 2026 State of the Graduate Report reveals that 67% of recent and soon-to-be college graduates would accept a lower-paying job if it offered greater long-term career security. 

Salary is still the top consideration when evaluating job offers, with 68% of graduates citing it, but job security now ranks above career growth opportunities, at 52% and 49% respectively.

"They're reading the headlines, and they're seeing on social media that various companies are laying off workers," says Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster. "They're being really smart and prudent about evaluating company stability and their financial health and long-term career growth." 

Concern about the economy remains steady, with 76% saying they are worried about its impact on job prospects. Some of those fears are being driven by the rise of AI, which is reshaping how many office roles are performed. 

Nearly nine in 10 graduates worry AI could replace entry-level roles, up from 64% last year. New research from Goldman Sachs shows that AI can potentially automate tasks that account for 25% of all work hours in the U.S.  

Salemi points out that the rise of AI also creates an opportunity for new grads to highlight digital literacy skills on their resume and show that they are embracing new automation tools. 

Read more: 'Job hugging' signals shift in worker priorities

"Employers value candidates who can leverage AI, not compete with it but work alongside it," she said. "Upskilling these areas can actually make candidates stand out." 

Despite concerns about AI and the broader economy, confidence in landing a job remains high but not universal, according to the survey. While 79% say they are confident they will receive a job offer within three months of graduation, 22% are not confident they'll secure an offer in that time frame. 

Additionally, 35% anticipate their search will take four months or longer.

"I think it's important for them from a strategic standpoint to apply consistently across multiple platforms and have multiple resumes available," Salemi says. 

Just because landing a job in this economy may take longer than expected doesn't mean it's not going to happen, she added. "Hiring cycles vary based on industry and geography," Salemi says. "Persistance is key."

Adapting to shifting priorities

College graduates are also demonstrating increased flexibility in how they approach early career decisions, according to the survey. Sixty-nine percent say they are more willing to compromise on their ideal role than they were a year ago, while 75% say they would accept a job they expected to leave within a year if it provided immediate income.

To address these shifting priorities highlighted in the survey, Salemi recommends that employers walk new graduates through career opportunities and long-term development paths during interviews, so they can see what their first few years at the company might look like.

"Job seekers, especially college grads, ask themselves, 'Why should I work for you?' Where is this company headed?'" Salemi says. "Employers may want to get ahead of it and say something like, 'This is where we stand in the industry, and we've had tremendous growth.'"

If the current outlook is not so rosy and the company has gone through a round of layoffs, employers should address that head on as well, Salemi adds. "You could say something like, 'That was one department. It's isolated. We do not foresee that happening in the future, and this department specifically is headed in this direction.'"

Overall, for benefit leaders, the survey results should be a welcome sign, Salemi says. 

"Job seekers are looking for stamina and stability, which is great news for employers because it shows that they are looking for long-term retention," Salemi says.