Data show the entry‑level labor market is at its weakest in 37 years, with a sharp decline in hiring for recent graduates and new workforce entrants. Job gains are concentrated in health and social care while finance and information services, traditional onramps for grads, are shedding roles. Universities will likely see greater pressure on career centers, lower placement rates, and increased demand for transitional programming such as internships, micro‑credentials and employer partnerships. Institutions that track graduate outcomes must adapt reporting and support services quickly. Provosts and deans should prioritize scalable career supports, strengthen industry ties in resilient sectors, and consider curricular adjustments to improve employability in a ‘‘low‑hire, low‑fire’’ market that is disadvantaging early‑career graduates.