We are in the midst of a hiring crisis for entry-level jobs.
Between the continuing AI boom, stingy companies, and a flood of similarly qualified graduates, it seems like these days one of the hardest jobs to land is also the least prestigious. Everyone has to start somewhere, but they need to get on the first rung of the ladder before anything else. The modern day job search is not kind to anybody who finds themselves in this position.
The common advice given to those who are struggling is to stop blindly sending applications out and actually try to make some connections within the industry that they are trying to break into. The thing is, there is no telling what kind of exploitative weirdos you may meet when you come to them asking if they have any entry-level leads. A lack of experience often makes applicants more vulnerable to taking deals that don't really help their career or financial status in the long run.
From an employer perspective, it is true that employees at this level can often be seen as a nuisance. They have to invest in training and mentorship to get them to a decent level, and that often doesn't seem worth it if there is every chance that they will move on after two years anyway. Nonetheless, those just starting out in the working world still deserve opportunities, and ones that are fairly paid. They are just as much a part of the workforce as anybody else.