Less Than 20% of 2009 Grads Have Jobs

Well this is a frightening press release. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which has been tracking graduate employment for many years, reports that only 19.7% of 2009 college grads have found jobs. This is the lowest percentage in recent memory.

If you're a 2009 grad, I encourage you to use this information as motivation to look even harder for a job, and possibly accept a job that is less impressive than you expected, rather than simply get depressed and give up. New grads get pushed into the employment system after every semester, so you now have a head start over everyone graduating in the Summer, Fall, or Winter...but they'll be hunting very soon.

Hat tip to Anya Kamenetz for the link.