Job Outlook: New Data on Early Talent Hiring

• Summary

  As graduation approaches, employer hiring plans for the Class of 2026 are becoming clearer. Join us for the Spring update to NACE’s Job Outlook, where we’ll share the latest data on employer hiring projections and the trends shaping entry-level hiring. 

  This session will examine how hiring expectations have shifted since the start of the academic year and what those changes signal for the next recruiting cycle. 

  During this webinar, we’ll share new insights on: 

  • Final hiring projections for the Class of 2026 and how they compare to earlier forecasts
  • Industry trends shaping demand for new graduates
  • How employers are integrating AI into recruiting and entry-level work
  • New data on the skills today’s college students are bringing into the workforce
  • Early signals for the upcoming recruiting season 

  Purchase now to gain timely labor market insights and benchmarks you can use to refine recruiting strategies, strengthen employer engagement, and better prepare students for the evolving workforce. 

• Presenters

  

  Shawn VanDerziel, President & Chief Executive Officer, NACE

  As president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Shawn VanDerziel leads the association of 18,000 college career services professionals, early talent recruiting professionals, and business solution providers that serve the community. As a leading voice on the employment of the college educated and advocate for opportunity and access for all students, VanDerziel is featured regularly as an industry expert and is a sought-after speaker on a range of topics, including internships, hiring, career readiness, and trends in the workforce and college job market. Prior to joining the NACE staff, VanDerziel was with the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for 23 years, where he most recently served as chief human resources officer and as chief of staff. His earlier roles included corporate recruiting with Norrell Corporation and a position in higher education as associate director of student enrollment at National Louis University.

  

  Mary Gatta, Director of Research and Public Policy, NACE

  Mary Gatta, Ph.D., is the director of research and policy at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), where she leads research on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks. She has more than 20 years of teaching, research, and advocacy experience working on issues of career education and workforce development in colleges and nonprofit associations. Prior to joining NACE, Dr. Gatta served as an associate professor of sociology at City University of New York-Guttman and faculty director of the Ethnographies of Work program. In addition, she was the research director at the Rutgers University Center for Women and Work and a senior scholar at Wider Opportunities for Women in Washington D.C. She has written numerous books, articles, and policy papers on education and work. Dr. Gatta also served on NJ Governor Phil Murphy's Labor and Workforce Development Transition Team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Providence College and a master’s degree and doctorate in sociology from Rutgers University.

  

  James Hu, Founder/CEO, Jobscan

  Jobscan’s mission is to give power to job seekers by building the best tools. Born out of co-founder James Hu’s own frustration with job hunting back in 2014, Jobscan was established to help job seekers successfully navigate the powerful applicant tracking systems used by companies to manage and filter out applicants.

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