Employers have more opportunities for the college Class of 2010 than they did a year ago, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
NACE’s Job Outlook 2010 Spring Update shows employers expect to hire 5.3 percent more new college graduates in 2009-10 than they did in 2008-09.
“This is the first positive hiring outlook for new college graduates since October of 2008,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.
In October 2008, employers projected a 1.3 percent in hiring for the Class of 2009. That increase fell later in the fall of 2008 as the stock market and economy fell. College hiring has been in negative territory every since, hitting bottom in the Job Outlook 2009 Spring Update, when employers reported hiring 22 percent fewer new graduates in 2009 than they hired in 2008.
Earlier projections for the Class of 2010 showed hiring would be down 7 percent compared to last year.
Now, says Mackes, “we’re seeing hiring increases in nearly all the reporting industries.”
In fact, almost 80 percent of responding employers reported that their spring 2010 plans call for them to hire for full-time and/or internship positions.
By region, the Northeast has the best hiring outlook—a 25.5 percent increase is projected. The Southeast is the only region reporting a decrease (10 percent).
Results also bode well for next year’s crop of graduates.
“Nearly 60 percent of respondents have plans to hire more or the same number of new college graduates in Fall 2010 as they did in Fall 2009,” says Mackes.
