Why Getting A ‘Good’ Job Feels So Difficult: The Real Challenges Facing Job Seekers in 2025

Why getting a ‘good’ job feels so difficult

Why getting a ‘good’ job feels so difficult is a question that plagues millions of job seekers across America. What used to be the gold standard of a six-figure salary now barely covers basic living expenses, while entry-level positions require years of experience that new graduates simply don’t have. The American Dream of financial security and career advancement feels increasingly out of reach for many workers.

The job market has fundamentally shifted, creating a perfect storm of challenges that make finding meaningful, well-paying employment feel nearly impossible. From the experience catch-22 to the skills gap crisis, job seekers are facing unprecedented obstacles in their quest for career success.

The six-figure salary crisis

The benchmark of a six-figure salary used to represent the gold standard income – the tipping point of finally earning disposable income and building savings based on wants rather than just needs. It symbolized the American Dream: being able to pay bills, put food on the table, provide shelter for your family, and have additional savings for the future.

Today, that reality has completely changed. More than half of Americans say they would need at least $100,000 per year to be financially comfortable, with 26% requiring salaries between $100,000-$149,000. Yet people making well over six figures are still living paycheck to paycheck, stressed about making ends meet.

The American Dream is now unaffordable

According to GoBankingRates analysis, a family of four would need more than $100,000 annually in all 50 states to achieve the American Dream, which includes:

• Owning a home
• Owning a car
• Having a pet
• 20% of income for savings
• 30% for discretionary spending

Thirty-eight states require more than $140,000 annually, with the most expensive states (Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts) needing over $240,000. The median income for families of four in these states falls at least $94,000 short of what’s required.

The experience catch-22

One of the most frustrating aspects of job hunting is the experience paradox. Many entry-level job seekers find themselves in an impossible situation: they need experience to get a job, but they need a job to get experience. This catch-22 is particularly devastating for recent graduates and career changers.

Over a third of employers refrain from hiring recent Gen Z college graduates in favor of older employees, with more than half saying recent college graduates are unprepared for the workforce. This creates a vicious cycle where young workers can’t gain the experience they need to advance their careers.

The disappearing entry-level jobs

Entry-level positions have become increasingly rare in today’s job market:

• Entry-level jobs account for only 2.5% of all jobs posted on ZipRecruiter
• Just 1.9% of available jobs require no experience at all
• Hiring for entry-level and less specialized positions dropped from 79% in 2022 to 61%
• More than half of college graduates don’t apply for entry-level positions because they feel unqualified

The skills gap crisis

There’s a massive mismatch between the skills employees have and the skills employers are looking for. In 2023, 42% of employees felt excluded from job opportunities due to lack of formal qualifications or experience. Meanwhile, 46% of companies plan to increase hiring because their current employees lack required skills.

The problem is compounded by several factors:

1. Inflated job requirements

Job requirements have become increasingly demanding, often requiring more experience and qualifications than necessary. This happens because:

• Companies eliminated recruiters who understood the job market and could push back on unrealistic requirements
• Line managers, who aren’t experts on hiring, ask their teams what’s needed and inflate requirements
• With more candidates available, employers can be more selective
• Companies are less willing to take risks in a high-interest rate environment

2. Lack of training opportunities

The United States has a weak system for supporting worker upskilling and training throughout their careers:

• US spends only 0.03% of GDP on job training (OECD average: 0.11%)
• Employers have largely given up on training compared to 30-40 years ago
• Companies prefer hiring externally rather than promoting from within
• High job turnover creates disincentives for employers to invest in worker development

3. Education-job mismatch

There’s a fundamental disconnect between what people study and what employers need:

• Too many people studying subjects with limited job opportunities
• Too few people getting skills in high-demand trades and industries
• More people have four-year degrees than jobs requiring that level of education
• Insufficient access to training for jobs requiring more than high school but less than a four-year degree

The changing job market dynamics

The labor market has cooled significantly in recent months, making job hunting even more challenging:

• Hiring rates dipped to 3.5% in March 2024
• Total job postings declined more than 15% at the end of 2023
• The ratio went from one open job per active applicant in 2022 to one job for every two applicants in 2023
• Companies are more selective and only hiring for “sure bet” positions

The student debt burden

Student loan debt has reached an all-time high of $1.77 trillion, creating a ripple effect that makes it harder for young people to achieve financial milestones:

• 52% of first-time home buyers said student loan debt delayed their ability to save for a down payment
• College costs have risen much faster than overall inflation
• Young people start adulthood with thousands of dollars in debt
• This delays homeownership, marriage, and other life milestones

The job hopping dilemma

With traditional career paths disrupted, many workers are turning to job hopping as a strategy for advancement. However, this creates its own set of challenges:

Benefits of job switching

• Job switchers increase their salary more quickly than those who stay put
• Switching companies is often the fastest way to reach the next level role
• Workers have more negotiating power when they’re being recruited
• It’s easier to find out market wages through job postings than internal conversations

Risks of job hopping

• Employers may view frequent job changes as a red flag
• You might miss out on promotions and long-term benefits
• It can be difficult to build deep expertise in any one area
• You may leave money on the table by switching too quickly

The skills-based hiring movement

Despite the challenges, there’s a growing movement toward skills-based hiring that could help address some of these issues:

• 79% of workers and hiring managers say skills and experience are more valuable than credentials
• 52% of US job postings on Indeed don’t mention formal education requirements (up from 48% in 2019)
• Major companies like Walmart and IBM are hiring more workers without degrees
• Skills-based hiring has shown to reduce mis-hires and increase retention by 89%

Strategies for navigating the difficult job market

1. Focus on skills development

Instead of focusing on time or money, prioritize acquiring the skills employers actually need:

• Take advantage of affordable online training programs
• Look for programs with practical components
• Consider freelancer platforms to build experience
• Volunteer or intern to gain relevant experience

2. Be strategic about job moves

When considering job changes, focus on:

• What skills you’ll gain at the new position
• Whether you’re ready for the next level
• The broader economic climate
• Your long-term career goals

3. Build your network

Networking becomes even more important in a competitive market:

• Connect with people in your target industry
• Attend industry events and conferences
• Join professional associations
• Leverage LinkedIn to build relationships

4. Consider alternative paths

Don’t limit yourself to traditional career paths:

• Look into skilled trades and technical careers
• Consider remote work opportunities
• Explore contract or freelance work
• Think about starting your own business

The psychological impact

The difficulty of finding good jobs has significant psychological effects on workers:

• 73% of Gen Zers say the current economy makes it difficult to set up long-term goals
• 55% of unemployed adults are completely burnt out from job searching
• Two-thirds of Gen Z workers suffer from application burnout
• Many workers feel discouraged about their financial standing

The future of work

To address these challenges, several changes are needed:

Policy solutions

• Increased investment in worker training and upskilling programs
• Better coordination between employers and educational institutions
• Support for alternative career paths and skilled trades
• Addressing the student debt crisis

Employer changes

• More realistic job requirements
• Increased investment in employee development
• Better onboarding and training programs
• More flexible hiring practices

FAQs

Live example — user point of view

I graduated college in 2022 with a business degree and $45,000 in student loan debt. I was excited to start my career and achieve the American Dream my parents had talked about. But reality hit hard when I started job hunting.

Every entry-level position I found required 2-3 years of experience I didn’t have. I applied to over 200 jobs and got only 5 interviews. The few offers I received paid $35,000-$40,000 annually – barely enough to cover my student loan payments and basic living expenses, let alone save for a house or retirement.

I eventually took a job paying $38,000, but after taxes, student loans, rent, and basic expenses, I was living paycheck to paycheck. My parents’ generation could have bought a house and started a family on this salary, but I can barely afford to live on my own.

After 18 months, I switched jobs for a $15,000 raise, but I’m still not where I thought I’d be. The six-figure salary that seemed achievable in college now feels like a distant dream. I’m considering going back to school for a technical degree or learning a trade, as traditional corporate paths seem increasingly difficult to navigate.

The job market has fundamentally changed, and we need to adapt our expectations and strategies accordingly. The American Dream isn’t dead, but it requires a different approach than what worked for previous generations.