Job outlook up a bit for grads

June 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

To get a sense of the job market new college graduates face, consider the latest crop of nurses from Santa Rosa Junior College. Just eight of the 55 students are leaving with job offers — and that’s considered good news.

Last year, no graduates of the California community college’s associate-degree nursing program had a job in hand.

“We’re excited that finally something is happening,” said Sharon Johnson, the program director.

This year’s slightly-better performance is one of many signs around the country that 2010 is a better year than 2009 for landing that first job out of college — but not by much.

New nurses are looking for something — anything — as the down economy has slowed retirements in their otherwise promising field. Teachers also face intense competition for positions that in their case have been made scarce by state and local budget cuts.

Even graduates with sought-after degrees had less than sizzling prospects. Fewer than half of U.S. accounting majors could boast job offers this spring, one study found.

There are signs of life. Employers plan to hire 5 percent more new college graduates this year than they did a year ago, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which also polled the future accountants.