Strong job growth, low unemployment and active recruiting on college campuses have created favorable opportunities for the Class of 2006, according to career advisers at the state's public and private colleges and universities.
The University of Utah reports 160 recruiters sought potential employees among its pool of graduates. Brigham Young University had 190 recruiters this year; Weber State University had 172.
Graduates are finding jobs in a variety of fields, from business management and computer systems to broadcast journalism and graphic arts, but accounting graduates are most in demand.
"Our accounting students have choices of four to five offers," said Pat Wheeler cq , adviser at Weber State University's Office of Student Services. WSU students had access to more than 127 accounting openings alone, she added.
Bill Brady cq , director of BYU's business career center, said 98 percent of his school's graduates with master's degrees in accounting have jobs. Ninety-six percent of the bachelor's degree accounting grads have accepted offers, he said.
Utah's job growth rate of 4.3 percent far outpaces the U.S. average of 1.6 percent, according to Mark Knold, Utah Department of Workforce Services senior economist. The "robust growth coupled with our 3.4 percent unemployment rate, is roughly the same as during the strong economy" of the late 1990s.
"The results are more jobs being created and fewer experienced workers looking for jobs," Knold said. "These conditions favor new graduates."
Jayson Sanchez is well aware of the positive job market. The Salt Lake Community College student will collect an associate degree in business on Friday May 5 . Four days before his graduation date, he starts working in security sales for a Salt Lake-based subsidiary of Honeywell International.
Sanchez, a 35-year-old former military man and divorced father of two, opted to enter the work force rather than pursue a bachelor's degree.
"This is a good opportunity for me to have a career and make some real money," Sanchez said, adding he had three offers to choose from.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reiterates the rosy scenario. The association's 2006 survey shows employers expect to hire nearly 15 percent more new college graduates this year than they did in 2005, particularly business graduates.
Demand for greater accountability in the private and public sectors is fueling the demand for accounting graduates, college career advisers said. Accounting reforms mandated by the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act are taking effect and create work for auditors and others who know the mechanics of financial reporting.
That's good news for college graduates.
The NACE estimates accounting graduates can expect an average starting salary of $46,188, up 5.4 percent from 2005.
They are closely followed by economics/finance graduates, who are getting average salary $44,058, up 5.3 percent, and business administration/management majors, who are seeing average offers of 3.9 percent higher than a year ago at $40,976.
Stan Inman cq , U. director of career services, said education and a college degree is one of the best investment an individual makes.
"For each year of [college] education, students can expect a 15 to 20 percent increase in compensation," Inman said. "The 10 highest paying occupations in Utah require a degree."
