College students are walking off the graduation stage into a murky job market, where economic uncertainty and AI-driven changes have put some entry-level roles at risk.
Their tech savviness could be an asset, though.
“What this new graduate brings is a digitally native way to do problem-solving that many of us don’t understand,” Judy Marks, the CEO of Otis, told Business Insider. “They have a value proposition.”
Today’s college graduates began school around the time ChatGPT launched and have completed their degrees alongside the rapid adoption of AI tools.
An innate familiarity with tech may give them an edge in today’s market, said Marks, who leads one of the world’s largest elevator companies.
“Day one, they’re going to adopt technology quicker than we ever did, and they are going to make a difference,” Marks said.
She added that graduates should stay open and agile and use their voice in the workforce.
“You’re part of this enterprise for a reason,” Marks said. “Make a difference.”
Every class has its challenges
While the job market may seem bleak amid warnings about the end of white-collar work, Marks has some words of comfort.
“We’ve all entered the workforce during times of change,” the Otis CEO said. “So, don’t let that get in your head.”
Entry-level job hunters are grappling with valid concerns. Unemployment rates among recent college grads climbed to roughly 5.7% at the end of 2025, up from about 5.3% in the third quarter, according to the New York Federal Reserve. At the same time, the share of graduates working in jobs that typically don’t require a degree has reached its highest level since 2020, at 42.5%.
Still, previous graduating classes faced their own challenges, from the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic, to tariff threats last year that disrupted companies’ growth outlooks.
Marks, who now leads a company with a $28.39 billion market cap and around 72,000 employees, built her career in a heavily male-dominated industry, during a time when there were even fewer women in the field. While the experience looks different today, she said, breaking into the workforce as a newcomer has always come with challenges.
On the bright side, today’s graduates can avoid feeling locked into a narrow career trajectory, since jobs will likely keep evolving.
“Who knows what career paths you’re going to do? Don’t worry about it,” Marks said, adding that recent grads should avoid getting caught up in expectations about job timelines.
Instead, the CEO suggested that graduates invent their own path, while continuing to put in effort.
“Hard work still matters,” Marks said.
