Employers plan to hire 17 percent more graduates from the Class of 2007 than they did from the Class of 2006, making this year's job market the strongest since 2001-2002, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
This year's growth is part of a four-year gradual increase in jobs for recent college graduates, said Andrea Koncz, employment information manager of NACE. According to Koncz, job offers to the class of 2006 showed an increase of 14.5 percent from the previous year.
Koncz attributed the growth to improvements in the economy in general and said it is not due to a change in graduates' qualifications.
"What employers have been telling us throughout that four-year time period is that with the improving economy, they have more positions available," Koncz said.
Jobs that have showed the largest increase in available positions, Koncz said, include "service employers" such as banks.
Heather Rudd, career counselor for Arts & Sciences career services, said the University has seen an increase in employers interested in recruiting undergraduates this year.
Rudd pointed out that the annual spring job fair usually consists of around 80 employers, whereas this year there are already 104 employers signed up to attend. She added that this year's fair, to be held Feb. 1, will be the biggest UCS has ever hosted.
While all majors can attend the fair, "these are definitely the types of opportunities that are open to liberal arts majors," said Ladd Flock, director of career services for the College.
Flock added that UCS has adapted some of its strategies for helping students find jobs.
Specifically, UCS has added space for additional student appointments this year after seeing an increase in the number of students seeking job counseling, Flock said.
"Students are looking to sit down with an advisor and come up with a job search strategy," Flock said.
Flock also said students should be proactive when searching for a job.
Right now there are "very strong job markets, but the students have to find the jobs," Flock said. "They have to be actively looking."
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