Job prospects for soon-to-be college graduates are brighter this year in nearly every industry sector nationwide, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).  The organization found that about 53% of employers surveyed planned on hiring more college graduates than in 2010, and the average starting salary offer was up about 3.5% from the same time last year – the first increase since 2008.  And according to an annual survey by Michigan State University, companies plan to boost their hiring of new college graduates with bachelor degrees by 10%.

Here are a few things for 2011 graduates to know about the current job market:

  • Hiring will be most robust in manufacturing, professional services, large commercial banking, and the Federal government.
  • Large corporations with 4,000 or more employees plan to add an average of 114 college grads each this year.
  • Internships are extremely helpful in getting a job.  About 50-75% of large companies now hire from their intern pools.
  • The hottest regions for entry-level hiring of college graduates are the Great Lakes and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.
  • Employers will hire most significantly among graduates with business- and technology-related majors.

Even though the job outlook is inching higher, it still has a long way to go to reach 2007 levels,  before the recent recession.  To find information about entry-level jobs for college graduates and general career exploration, visit the Library’s Jobs and Careers Neighborhood or visit our virtual neighborhood online.