More College Grads Landing Jobs

May 14, 2010

Some hopeful news for college graduates: According to a new study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more college graduates will go directly into jobs after completing their degrees this year.

NACE's 2010 Student Survey shows that 24.4 percent of the class of 2010 who applied for jobs will have employment waiting for them after graduation. Last year, only 19.7 percent of graduates had positions lined up at the same time.

In part, employment has improved among college graduates because they have become more realistic about job availability. "A greater number of Class of 2010 graduates accepted the jobs they were offered," said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, in a press release. "There appears to be a greater awareness of the economic realities among this year's graduates, and greater flexibility in the types of jobs they will consider."

Last year, optimistic graduates turned down many job opportunities: According to the NACE study, 40 percent of 2009 seniors who responded to the poll received job offers, but only 45 percent of those students accepted. This year, 39 percent of seniors who responded to the poll said they were offered jobs, and 59 percent took the jobs.

U.S. News & World Report notes that college graduates are also benefiting from several industries that are trying to expand: Manufacturing jobs are expected to increase by almost 60 percent for college graduates, accounting firms are still heavily recruiting on campuses, and many government jobs are becoming available.

"Government hiring continues to be strong," noted Monica Wilson, associate director of employer relations at Dartmouth College, who was quoted by U.S. News. "The government is doing a better job communicating openings to college career services offices."

Mimi Collins, a spokeswoman for NACE, encouraged students to take advantage of their career resource centers. "It's an important resource and one of the only times in life that you'll have something like this," she was quoted as saying in West Virginia University's student publication, The Daily Athenaeum. "Finding a job, and I hate to use a cliché, is a job. Career centers will help you connect to employers, provide workshops to help you ready resumes and aid you in ways that you probably will never have again in the workforce."

Compiled by CityTownInfo.com Staff