After caps and gowns are donned and stored, 2017’s college grads can anticipate decent job prospects, as a recent CareerBuilder survey shows a majority of employers are prepared to welcome newly minted grads.
The study found that 74 percent of the employers queried stated that they intend to hire recent graduates this year — an improvement over last year’s 67 percent and the highest number over the entire past decade.
Results also indicate odds are especially favorable in the fields of business, engineering, computer and informational sciences, math and statistics and construction.
Starting salaries appear strong as well, with 50 percent of those employers polled planning to offer higher figures than in 2016. Additionally, 60 percent stated an intention to offer jobs to students prior to graduation dates; and 70 percent indicated willingness to negotiate.
CareerBuilder’s questionnaire also revealed areas that could use improvement for overall well-roundedness. Business stakeholders cited that more emphasis on practical experience and less academic preparation would be beneficial; and that students should strive to maintain a balance between technical and liberal arts knowledge.
New grads also would do well to brush up on communications, teamwork and leadership skills, employers said. CareerBuilder collaborated with Harris Poll to conduct the online canvassing of 2,380 HR and hiring professionals.
