In a tight job market, small businesses may offer opportunities for new college grads

Of course, some entry-level positions at smaller firms have also been reduced due to AI's ability to automate routine tasks.While total small-business employment grew 9.6% from January 2023 to November 2025, employment in highly AI-exposed roles grew just 3.4% — and workers between the ages of 22-28 in those roles have experienced headcount reductions, Gusto also found.Other studies show a worsening outlook. Researchers from Drexel University's College of Business found an expected decline in small business hiring for the Class of 2026.Small companies with fewer than 500 employees were 30% more likely than larger businesses to say that they're not planning on hiring new college grads this year, the researchers found.But in the face of such challenges, there is another increasingly viable…

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