“Job search for new graduates may take time, government reports” |
| Job search for new graduates may take time, government reports Posted: 12 Dec 2010 06:59 PM PST Students graduating this winter will begin to weigh their options after the holidays, when the workplace opens up to new hires. With the economy recovering at a slow pace and federal salaries frozen for the next two years, students entering the workforce may not have an easy time finding work. Samantha Ciarcia, who graduated from UH Mānoa last spring, currently works three jobs. She waitresses in Waikīkī, is a lab assistant on campus, and interns at the Oceanic Institute next to Sea Life Park. "I want to do research, and it takes a long time to get into," said Ciarcia. "It was pretty difficult. For a while I didn't really find anything. There weren't many options (for what I wanted to do). That's why I'm waitressing." Ciarcia added that some graduates may have to settle for a job that is outside their degree's area of focus. A fellow UH graduate she knows was looking for work in environmental studies for five months. "She eventually got a job, but not doing what she wanted." According to a government website, over the next seven years the U.S. population will see a 3.4 percent increase in those aged 16 to 24. In other words, there is a predicted increase in graduates looking for work. While the availability of jobs is expected to increase, this expectation only applies for certain professions. By 2018, the industries that are projected to see an increase in demand for workers include education, technical services and food service. Health care is the industry that will see the most growth, with particular demand for home care aides, though the pay runs as little as $20,000 a year. Nursing is currently in high demand, and that demand is expected to grow exponentially, with starting annual salaries averaging $50,000. Construction follows health care in predicted industry growth. Industries expected to take the biggest hit include agriculture, manufacturing and production. Technology is expected to increase agricultural production effiency, therefore requiring fewer employees. The decline in need for manufacturing jobs can be attributed to outsourcing. Jobs in textile design and production will be almost entirely outsourced to developing countries. Karina Acevedo, a Spring 2010 graduate who earned a degree in psychology, works in food service in Waikīkī. "I'm doing something that doesn't require a degree, but there's not much out there." Acevedo has decided to join the National Guard, which will give her the training she wants to enter into health care, as well as allow her to remain in Hawai'i with a stable job. She reports to boot camp for the National Guard on Feb. 14, 2011. As of September 2010, 5.3 percent of Oahu was unemployed, and 6.4 percent of the state of Hawai'i was unemployed. That is a comparably smaller percentage than the national average, which was hovering at 9.8 percent as of November. "Most of my friends went to the mainland for work," said Ciarcia, "but they were mostly from the mainland, so it makes sense." Many new graduates return to their home state while looking for jobs, usually able to live rent-free with their families or take advantage of friends' professional connections while they search. BETTER ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR 2011 GRADUATES The news is brighter for students set to graduate in 2011. The National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts that hiring done by colleges and universities will rise significantly. As more graduates opt to obtain master's and Ph.D. degrees, demand for workers in educational institutions will also rise. Of the 20 fastest growing job markets, 12 require an associate's degree or higher. Demands for specialized or higher degrees are expected to rise as the workplace becomes more competitive. Ciarcia's advice to those preparing to graduate is to "plan ahead, get out there and start looking as soon as you can." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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