Entry-Level Job Market in the US: Week of November 1, 2026 - Openings Dip Amidst Layoff News

Entry-Level Job Market in the US: Week of November 1, 2026

The number of new entry-level jobs saw a notable decrease this week, amidst a backdrop of layoff announcements in the tech sector. FirstHire tracked 55,029 new job openings for candidates with 0-2 years of experience, an 11% drop from the previous week. However, more than 60% of these roles require no prior experience, and key sectors like sales, finance, and customer support continue to post thousands of new positions.

This week's hiring news is mixed. While October saw significant layoff announcements from major tech companies, other sectors like government and healthcare are actively hiring. For job seekers, this market requires a wider search and a focus on skills.

Openings this week

FirstHire tracked 55,029 new entry-level job postings (0-2 years of experience) in the United States during the week ending November 1. This represents an 11% decrease from the 61,819 openings tracked the previous week. Weekly numbers often fluctuate, and a one-week dip is not necessarily a long-term trend.

• No-experience roles: A bright spot in the data is the share of jobs open to absolute beginners. FirstHire found that 33,301 openings, or about 60.5%, explicitly required no prior professional experience. This is a consistent share compared to last week.
• Remote and hybrid work: The number of new fully remote positions rose to 3,862 from 3,483 last week. An additional 2,456 new jobs were listed as hybrid. Combined, these location-flexible roles make up about 11.5% of all new openings this week. You can browse all of them on our entry-level remote jobs page.
• Internships: The number of new internships posted was 1,548, a seasonal decrease from 1,850 the week prior. Many companies finalize their fall internship hiring by October and are now preparing for summer 2027 recruitment.

Who is hiring

Top Companies

Retail, consulting, and tech giants continue to be the largest individual hirers at the entry-level. Walmart led all companies with 355 new openings tracked by FirstHire. It was followed by professional services firm Deloitte (226) and a cluster of tech and aerospace companies: CyberCoders (212), Amazon Web Services (AWS) (210), SpaceX (207), and Amazon (204).

The list also includes several large staffing and recruiting firms, such as CyberCoders, Robert Half, and Jobot. These companies hire for a wide range of clients, so an application to them can open doors at many different employers.

Top Cities

Job opportunities remain concentrated in major metropolitan areas. New York City was the top market this week with 1,810 new entry-level postings. It was followed by Chicago (807) and Houston (738). The top ten cities for new graduates are:

1. New York: 1,810
2. Chicago: 807
3. Houston: 738
4. Atlanta: 613
5. Austin: 608
6. San Francisco Bay Area: 571
7. Los Angeles: 535
8. Dallas: 527
9. Boston: 512
10. Charlotte: 486

Top Roles

Roles focused on revenue generation and customer interaction led the hiring demand this week. Sales and business development was the largest category with 4,020 new openings. Customer support (3,446) and finance and accounting (3,344) also showed strong demand.

Despite news of tech layoffs, software engineering roles still numbered 2,320, with another 1,286 in data and analytics. You can find dedicated searches for roles like new grad software engineer and entry-level data analyst on FirstHire.

What it pays

To provide insight into compensation, FirstHire analyzes salary and wage data included in job postings. It's important to note that only a fraction of postings include pay, and this data represents the employer's stated range, not a final offer.

• The median annual salary midpoint for entry-level roles was $85,000. This was based on a sample of 4,359 job postings that included salary information.
• The median hourly wage midpoint was $23.50. This was based on a sample of 4,311 job postings with hourly pay data.

The "midpoint" is the middle of the pay range provided by the company. Actual compensation depends on factors like your location, skills, and the specifics of the role.

Hiring news this week

October was a challenging month for the tech industry, with several major companies announcing significant layoffs. According to one report, over 150,000 job cuts were announced across all US industries in October, the highest for that month in over two decades. Companies including Amazon, Netflix, and HubSpot all announced workforce reductions, often citing economic pressures and strategic shifts toward artificial intelligence.

While these headlines can be concerning, many of the cuts were aimed at mid-career corporate roles, not entry-level positions. However, the market is becoming more competitive. Some analysts characterize the current environment as a "low-fire, low-hire" market. Employers are being more cautious, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) projects a mostly flat hiring market for the Class of 2026 compared to the previous year.

In policy news, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would increase scrutiny on H-1B visa extensions. The proposed change, published on October 14, would remove the policy of automatically deferring to a previous approval, potentially requiring more documentation for renewals. The public comment period for this proposal is open until November 13, 2026.

On a more positive note, government agencies continue to hire. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is actively recruiting for entry-level Border Patrol Agents, offering up to $50,000 in incentives.

What to do this week

1. Widen your search beyond big tech. While tech giants are in the news for layoffs, sectors like healthcare, government, logistics, and accounting are still hiring actively, often with less competition. Explore the full range of entry-level jobs in the US to see what's available.

1. Focus on skills, not just job titles. Employers are increasingly using skills-based hiring, prioritizing what you can do over your GPA or major. Tailor your resume to highlight specific, provable skills for each application. If a job description asks for data analysis, mention the specific software you used and the outcome of your analysis.

1. Prepare for internship season now. The main recruiting season for Summer 2027 internships is approaching. Many large company deadlines fall in October and November of the preceding year. Update your resume, polish your portfolio, and start browsing internships in the US so you can apply as soon as they open.

1. Network strategically. In a competitive market, a personal connection can make all the difference. Instead of just sending applications, aim to have five new conversations a week. Reach out to alumni from your school, connect with recruiters on LinkedIn, and attend virtual company information sessions.

FAQ

How is this data collected?

FirstHire's data is compiled by tracking new job postings on LinkedIn and thousands of company career sites across the United States. The data in this report includes roles posted in the last seven days that require 0-2 years of experience. Postings from third-party recruiting agencies that are reposting jobs on behalf of others are excluded to avoid duplication.

Why did the number of jobs go down this week?

Weekly fluctuations in job postings are normal. A decrease can be caused by many factors, including the end of a month, hiring freezes at large companies, or simply the natural ebb and flow of recruitment cycles. It's more useful to look at trends over several weeks or months. Despite the drop, over 55,000 new entry-level jobs is still a significant number of opportunities.

What does 'median annual midpoint' mean?

This is a statistical measure of the salaries listed in job postings. For every job that includes a salary range (e.g., $75,000-$95,000), we find the midpoint ($85,000). The "median annual midpoint" is the median of all those midpoints from our sample. It provides a more stable indicator of typical pay than a simple average, which can be skewed by a few very high or low salaries.