The hiring picture is improving for the college class of 2014. According to a new survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers are planning to hire 8.6% more graduates for their U.S. operations than they did from the class of 2013. It's a big jump from the spring of 2013 when employers said they would boost hiring by just 2.1% over the previous year.
A non-profit group in Bethlehem, PA, NACE links college placement offices with employers. It surveyed 1,015 of its employer members from February 11 – March 26, 2014 and got responses from 161 companies in industries ranging from agriculture to energy to retail. Respondents included
The NACE survey also asked employers to rate the skills they most value in new hires. Companies want candidates who can make decisions, solve problems, communicate clearly, analyze data and prioritize their work. Here is the ranking in order of importance:
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Comparative literature or history majors shouldn't be discouraged by the list of preferred majors, says Dan Black, president of NACE's board and director of Americas recruiting for accounting and business services giant EY. The list of majors hired reflects the respondents to the survey, large companies like
The great news for all grads is that the recession-tainted employment picture seems to be clearing. "Many students have had front row seats to a soft economy for some years," says Black. That's finally starting to change.