ASU's 2006 graduating class has more to look forward to than the end of lecture classes -- a better job market will also be available for them, according to a national survey.
Employers are expected to hire 14.5 percent more college graduates this year than they did in 2005, the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported in a 2006 Job Outlook survey.
"The job market looks pretty good this year," said Mimi Collins, director of information for NACE.
In addition to more jobs, 2006 graduates would be seeing higher salaries, Collins said.
Though the increase is not a dramatic one, Collins said it demonstrates a continuing increase that has been occurring over the last few years.
A recession that began in 2001 hurt the job market for graduates at the time, she said.
"We noticed that college recruiting was down then," Collins said.
Over the past three years, the market for college graduates has started to rebound, she said.
Chemical engineering, accounting, business and finance are among the top 10 jobs in 2006, according to NACE.
Finance junior Steven Mountjoy said he has already started looking into a job for when he graduates in 2007.
"I got an internship for this summer at Vanguard Mutual Funds," he said. "I'd eventually like to do something with the stock market."
Mountjoy said he was concerned about his starting salary, as well.
"I'd say a reasonable starting salary for a finance major is around $35,000 to $40,000," he said.
Mountjoy said he has worked since age 14 to pay for college, but feels the benefit of obtaining a college degree is worth the expense.
"You're going to make more money," he said.
A survey conducted by the Department of Education this year evaluated the job market for all levels of education, including high school graduates, students with two-year associate degrees and four-year college graduates.
The survey concluded that the more education potential employees have, the higher salaries they will receive. It also said more education decreases the likelihood of unemployment over the course of a lifetime.
Guy Groff, the MBA programs dean at ASU, agreed with the prediction that 2006 MBA graduates should face a better job market this year.
Last year's numbers indicate an increase in the number of jobs, he said.
"In 2005, we had 92 percent [job] placement with a $73,000 average salary," Groff said.
A number of MBA students also find employment while still pursuing degrees.
"At graduation last year, we had 78 percent that had a job or would have a job," he said.
As of December 2005, 22 percent of May graduates were employed, he added.
Most MBA graduates, who come from various fields such as finance and information technology, will be seeking top-level positions, Groff said.
"Ultimately, the MBA will be going into executive management positions," he said.
Reach the reporter at kelsey.perry@asu.edu
