New Grads in Demand, Survey Says

U.S. college graduates are facing the best job market since 2001, with business, computer, engineering, education and healthcare grads in highest demand, a report by an employment consulting firm said Monday.

In its annual outlook of entry-level jobs, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said strong job growth and falling unemployment made this spring the hottest job market for America’s 1.4 million college graduates since the dot-com collapse in 2001.

The firm pointed to a survey by the National Assn. of Colleges and Employers that indicated employers planned to hire 14.5% more new college graduates than a year ago.

The survey also found higher starting salaries this year. Graduates with economic or finance degrees will see the biggest gain with starting salaries up 11% to $45,191.

But John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said graduates should not assume that the improved labor market would guarantee everyone a job.

“Even as demand and salaries rise, college students should not be lulled into thinking that the job search will be easy or that jobs will be handed to anyone with a degree,” he warned.