Employers Lowering College Hiring Projections

Every year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers,(NACE) surveys employers to get a sense of their projections for new college hires.

In light of the nationally uncertain economy, NACE did a follow up survey August to October.

Below are industry results from the 146 employers who responded to this follow-up survey:

Agriculture: -14.2%
Construction: -19.6%
Manufacturing: 0.3%
Distribution & Utilities: -17.6%
Trade: -7.4%
Finance & Insurance: -6.2%
Business Services: -3.1%
Professional Services: 1.7%
Government: 19.8%

Before you give up on your preferred industry you should note the following from NACE:

Employers who participated in both the August and October polls (N = 146) are expecting to decrease their original hiring levels by 1.6 percent. Nevertheless, when compared with the number of actual hires from these firms for the Class of 2008, the expectations for the Class of 2009 are still 1.3 percent ahead of last year’s actuals.