THE DAILY REVEILLE
PAGE 4
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2010
CAREER SERVICES
Employers projected to hire more graduates this spring National stats may not match LSU’s By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer
Seniors graduating this May are projected to have better luck in the job market than their peers did last May. The “Job Outlook 2010 Spring Update” report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that employers plan to hire 5.3 percent more newly graduated college students this year than last year. College hiring has decreased since October 2008 because of
the recession, according to the report. In NACE’s 2009 Spring Update, employers reported hiring nearly 22 percent fewer college graduates in spring 2009 than they did in spring 2008. “Employers are still behind [in hiring numbers] to where they were in 2008,” said Sara Crow, LSU Career Services assistant director for communications. “Obviously, with such a significant decrease last year, it’s good to see improvement. That’s an indication of a strengthening economy.” Crow said job availability and the economy seem to be interrelated because of how the economy affects businesses. She said when companies have less operational revenue, they often
Percent of college graduates hired (2004 to 2010): Spring 2004 to Spring 2005 — 13 percent increase Spring 2005 to Spring 2006 — 13.8 percent increase Spring 2006 to Spring 2007 — 19.2 percent increase Spring 2007 to Spring 2008 — 8 percent increase Spring 2008 to Spring 2009 — 22 percent decrease Spring 2009 to Spring 2010 — 5.3 percent increase projected Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
decide not to hire more employ- you were in the Northeast last year with a large drop, improveees or fill empty positions. “The pendulum has swung,” ment over the next year is drashe said. “A couple of years ago, matic because of where you came from. The Southstudents got to east may not have pick what job been hit as hard as they wanted, but other regions last now employers year.” have their pick of Crow said what students to NACE’s report hire.” is just a snapshot Hiring of colof projected hirlege graduates in ing in the nation, the Northeast was Sara Crow doesn’t affected the most Career Services assistant director which mean the results in the 2008-09 for communications are applicable to year, decreasing by 38.9 percent from the previ- the University. “I don’t think new graduous 2007-08 year, according to ates should feel worried that jobs the report. But this year, the projected aren’t going to be available to number of hires in the Northeast them,” she said. “There’s always increased the most out of the four a need for entry-level employregions, up 25.5 percent from the ment. The job search is a competitive process.” 2008-09 year. Kristen Dufauchard, mass The Southeast is the only region reporting a decrease in communication senior, said she’s projected hiring of college graduates. In 2008-09, the Southeast, including Louisiana, hired 4,279 college graduates, but this year, the projected number of hires is 3,849 — a 10 percent decrease. Crow said soon-to-be University graduates won’t necessarily have a harder time getting hired just because NACE’s report shows a decrease in hiring in the Southeast region, which includes Louisiana. “Louisiana has come out as one of the top states not experiencing much of an impact from the recession,” Crow said. “If
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‘It’s good to see improvement. That’s an indication of a strengthening economy.’
been looking for a job since the beginning of her senior year and is worried about getting hired. “I want to go out of state,” she said. “It makes me more hopeful that regions outside Louisiana have reported they want more graduates.” Not all students are as hopeful. Colin Ryan, religious studies senior, said he’s going to law school because he’s not optimistic about the job market. “I’ve heard it’s still hard to get a job,” he said. D’yonne Jones, sociology senior, said she’s pushed back her graduation date to avoid the job market and minor in an additional subject, which she said will make her more marketable when she figures out what she wants to do. Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com