College Career Outlook 2007

RUNNING HEAD: The 2007 College Graduate Career Outlook Shows Promise

The 2007 College Graduate Career Outlook Shows Promise

Monicia Porter

Prairie View A & M University

CNSL-5113

Fall 2007

The 2007 College Graduate Career Outlook Shows Promise

For the fourth straight year, employers across all sectors of the economy have projected healthy increases in their hiring of new college graduates. Besides the increase in hiring, employers in all regions said they would increase starting salary offers between 4 percent to more than 10 percent over last year (NACE, 2007).

While college graduates this graduating season can't exactly relax, the news is good and tells us there are plenty of entry level opportunities for anyone pounding the pavement in their business suit with a new diploma and professional resume in hand. In fact, according to the latest statistics, college students' chances of getting that perfect job are better than ever.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, researches the college graduate job outlook by conducting an annual email survey. From mid-August until October 4, 2006, NACE's most recent survey was sent to 1,137 members. They got a response rate of 23.5 percent (NACE, 2007). This survey forecasts employer's hiring intentions as they relate to new college graduates.

The top 10 bachelor's degrees in demand this year are: Accounting, Business Administration and Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Sciences and Systems Marketing and Marketing Management, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering and Economics and Finance.

Geographically, employers in the South expect the biggest increase in hiring 2006-07 college graduates. Southern employers plan to hire 25.5 percent more college graduates than they did last year. The West isn't far behind. Employers in western states indicated they planned to increase their hiring by 23 percent, adding approximately 17 more new graduates per organization. Employers in the Northeast indicated they will increase hiring by almost 17 percent and Midwestern employers lag only by comparison to the rest of the country as they plan to increase hiring of new college graduates by a solid 10 percent (Nunamaker &