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Keith McCord ReportingCollege graduates, armed with their diplomas, are going to find a favorable job market this year. And for those in the health and nursing fields, you should be working in no time.
Utah colleges and universities are holding graduation ceremonies this week. More than 28-hundred caps and gowns filled the Lifetime Activities center at Salt Lake Community College today. At the U, more than 7,000 diplomas were handed out at the Huntsman Center.
In Utah this spring, 20-thousand graduates are entering the job market, and for the first time in several years, the market is very good.
Alex Lowe, Finance Degree: "Yeah, all of my friends who have actively gone out there and looking for jobs have all done well, and haven't had problems finding anything."
According to several recent surveys both in-state and across the nation, the 2006 job outlook is the best in years. College grads with new degrees are being actively recruited.
We interviewed a number of students with a variety of degrees, following the U's graduation ceremony today. All were confident that finding work would be easy.
Whether it's a degree in geophysics, accounting, urban planning, finance or modern dance, these grads are hearing from prospective employers already.
Brian James, Accounting Degree: "And the accounting market has had a pretty good boom in the last few years. I'll actually intern this summer with Ernst & Young."
Sheena Breinholt, Modern Dance Degree: "So, as far as being a dance major, the job market is, I would say, very rich. Especially for teaching and being able to be able to dance in Utah is a huge opportunity."
Nearly 50-thousand jobs were created in Utah during the past year. Here's a breakdown of some professions and starting salaries. And in general, the more education, the higher the salary. Good news for students ready to go to work.
- Accounting: $46,000
- Engineering: $49,715
- Building/General contracting: $45,052
- Aerospace: $54,410;
- Consulting: $47,037
- Petroleum and coal products: $53, 611
(Source: Nat'l Assn. of Colleges and Employers Survey)
Tyler Lloyd, Communications Degree: "I think it's great. I was able to get a degree fairly quickly, and a job."
Utah's job growth rate is currently 4.3 percent, much better than the national rate of 1.6 percent.
