Class of 2019 Will Graduate in Best Job Market Since 2007

The Class of 2019 can expect to see employers hiring 16.6 percent more new graduates than last year for positions in the United States. Furthermore, 63.3 percent of employers who responded to the survey rated the job market as "excellent" or "very good!"

This information comes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2019 survey. "Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys its employer members about their hiring plans and other employment-related issues in order to project the market for new college graduates for the current class and to assess a variety of conditions that may influence that market," according to the Job Outlook report.

Searching for jobs or internships? University of Arkansas students can search thousands of jobs and internships on Handshake! Visit uark.joinhandshake.com or schedule an appointment with any of the three Career Centers on campus to assist you in your career and job-searching needs:

• University Career Development Center in Arkansas Union 607     
• Walton College Career Services in Willard J. Walker Hall 226    
• Law School Career Center in Waterman Hall 191

An important note for students is that more and more employers prefer to recruit new graduates in the fall. For the fourth consecutive year, 71 percent of employers planned to recruit students in fall 2018, while 29 percent have plans to recruit during spring 2019, according to the Job Outlook Survey. This gap is only projected to increase as 15 percent of employers who responded to the survey report conducting 100 percent of their college recruiting in the fall.

The top three degrees in demand by broad category are business, engineering, and computer and information systems for bachelor's and master's degree holders. However, math and sciences are most in demand for the doctoral level.

What are employers looking for when hiring Class of 2019 graduates?

Nearly three-quarters (73.3%) of respondents plan to screen students by GPA, with 3.0 being the popular cut-off. In addition to GPA, 82 percent of employers seek students with a well-written resume showing proof of solid written communication skills. Other attributes employers look for are "problem-solving skills" (80.9%), the "ability to work as part of a team" (78.7%), and "initiative" (74.2%). 

When deciding between two similar candidates, "having completed an internship with the hiring organization has the most influence in selecting one candidate over another." Another strong influential factor is having internship experience within the industry.