Job outlook for grads is dismal

With Utah’s unemployment rate at 6.3 percent, soon-to-be U alumni might face hardships in their efforts to acquire their preferred profession.

“This is one of the toughest environments that a graduating class has had to come out to in many years,” said Mark Knold, senior economist in the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

In the Utah Employment Summary for October 2009, approximately 47,100 jobs have been removed from the Utah economy during the past year.

Students have been seeking the guidance of U Career Services. About 9,500 students participate in the program, a drastic increase from five years ago, said Dana Sowby, associate director for U Career Services.

“We’re serving about a third more students than we did in 2004,” said Jim White, the assistant director for Career Services.

One way the U has tried to help students is by hosting more than five career fairs per year, some designated for specific majors to promote networking. However, Stan Inman, the director of Career Services, said there have been fewer employers attending the fairs this year.

“I know it’s still a tough job market, but I don’t think it’s that bad,” White said. “There are certain areas that are a little tighter where it’s been, but people shouldn’t be totally discouraged.”

In a recent speech, President Barack Obama suggested an initiative to provide loan aids, a short-term tax break and a new tax credit for small businesses that hire in 2010. It might be enough to employ some of the U’s graduating class, but not if they aren’t prepared in the first place.

“If you wait until your junior and senior year to start preparing for your future, that’s usually too late—at least too late to be competitive,” said Zach Warner, a senior in biology.

Counselors at Career Services encourage students to look for internships early so they can have some credentials. Along with attending career fairs and looking for jobs on databases and the classified pages, going to the company directly and—most importantly—networking are techniques to obtain an occupation, White said.

v.pineda@chronicle.utah.edu

6 comments

UtahPigeon

Mon Jan 4 2010 17:41

Delete anyone's comment who actually believes the government can do anything but burden the people. The only responsibility of the government is to protect freedoms, not create jobs and save people from themselves. While private employment is down, federal employment is up (thanks to Obama) go an apply for your new social position.

Not Jeff

Mon Jan 4 2010 14:58

News flash, A REPUBLICAN administration and Congress were in charge when it all spiraled. Jeff has been drinking the ditto head koolaide. If you delete my post you will have to delete Jeff's as well.

Helioz

Fri Dec 18 2009 16:11

Sure am glad I got a valuable degree and already have a job offer!

Computer Science for the win!

Brian

Fri Dec 18 2009 14:25

Die a slow painful death, Jeff.

Your name

Thu Dec 17 2009 14:24

Amen!

Jeff

Mon Dec 14 2009 20:46

News flash, no one wants to take loans to hire people while obama is authorizing out of control spending and socialist economic reforms that will raise taxes. Its not surpising that someone who has less private business experience than a McDonald's manager would propose an economic/jobs strategy that doesn't make sense. the job market will remain weak as long as obama and co. are in power.

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