2012 grads must labor mightily to join a changing work force

Despite depressing media messag- es to the contrary, all is not gloom and doom for the future of the 2,200 Youngstown State University students who will receive degrees next week or for the thousands of high school seniors in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys who will graduate over the next month.

Yes, the Class of 2012 faces myriad obstacles: stubbornly high unemployment rates of 30 percent and higher for their age group, reluctance among employers to hire and real median wages that fall far short of levels from 12 full years ago.

But as this nation’s current crop of 3.2 million high-school graduates and 3.4 million college grads prepares to stake claim to their sheepskins, a variety of signs points to greater promise in job prospects than their counterparts faced one year ago.

According to recent spring job-outlook surveys of more than 240 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the Economic Policy Institute:

Hiring pace for young people will increase about 20 percent or more from 2011. Those industries with the strongest rebound include oil and gas extraction, construction, manufacturing, retail trade, engineering services and government.

Our region, the Midwest, has the best outlook for increased employment this year, an 18 percent jump over last year, largely because of the growth of oil and gas drilling. Fortunately for Valley grads, that industry is gushing in new jobs for Ohio and the Mahoning Valley.

Throughout the nation, aging baby boomers are retiring at a rapid pace, leaving plenty of replacement openings available, particularly for young people with state-of-the-art training and skills.

Yet, despite these bright spots, few graduates can delude themselves into thinking that this nation’s structural barriers to easy entry into the labor market will be easy to remove.

That’s why they must focus on achieving the skill sets that most employers say they seek: team-playing strengths, leadership attributes, written communication skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

Making the grade

In addition, graduates who have maintained strong grades throughout their academic career must not underestimate the power of superlative performance. According to the NACE survey, 65 percent of employers planning to hire this year use a 3.0 grade-point-average as a cutoff, below which no applicants receive serious consideration.

For high school grads without viable and marketable vocational skills, higher education — despite its skyrocketing costs — emerges as a valid option. For those willing to invest the time, energy and steadfast dedication, the payoff can be immense. The U.S. Census Bureau reports average salaries for those with advanced degrees hover around $80,000, those with bachelor’s degrees earn about $58,000 and those with only high school diplomas make about $30,000. Investment in education proves that short-term pains generate lifelong gains.

Regardless of the route this year’s high school and college graduates take, all must arm themselves with the requisite fortitude, inner strength and perseverance that will be required to open doors to satisfying, well-paying and long-lasting careers.