JOB MARKET LOOKS GOOD FOR OHIO STATE GRADUATES

   COLUMBUS -- Many students planning to graduate from The Ohio State University this spring should encounter a job market that can accommodate their needs -- if current job trends continue.

   Trends indicate a definite need for employees with a background in technology and computers, while graduates with degrees in fields such as metallurgy and elementary education may not have as many options right out of college because the industry is in decline or the field sees greater numbers entering the work force this year.

   "The job market looks really promising right now, especially for those with degrees in technology-related fields," said Pam Park-Curry, director of career services for the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences. "Our students have the skills and qualifications employers are looking for, and that's giving them an edge when looking for a job."

   Data on graduates' career plans will not be available until late summer, but Park-Curry did say that if trends in the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences continue, 70 percent of the graduates will go straight into the work force and 30 percent will opt to continue their education in graduate or professional schools. Of those who enter the work force, 70 percent find work in the private sector, 16 to 17 percent in the public sector, 5 to 6 percent with not-for-profit groups and 6 to 7 percent in private manufacturing.

   This has been another excellent year for engineering graduates, said Rosemary Hill, director of Engineering Career Services. Many engineering graduates have reported multiple job offers. Demand for qualified engineers in all disciplines has been strong this year, she said.

   "About two-thirds of our students have solid co-op or internship experience, so they begin their senior-year job searches with a better sense of what they want in a job and the kind of experience that makes them more appealing to employers," Hill said. "Because the majority of engineering students began participating in campus interviews and resume referrals through Engineering Career Services as early as fall quarter, many June graduates reported jobs as early as spring quarter. Signing bonuses are becoming more common as well, particularly for high- qualified students recruited by major corporations outside of Ohio."

   Declines in the steel industry have led to a lower demand for specialists in metallurgy, Hill said.

   In the education field, science, mathematics and special education teachers are needed the most, said Thomas Vecchione, director of placement services for the College of Education.

   "The job market for teachers in Ohio continues to improve," he said. "For a long time, teaching graduates outside the high- demand areas previously mentioned faced keen competition for positions, particularly in suburban districts. But this trend is changing, evidenced in part by significant increases in recruitment at job fairs and on-campus recruiting. This was the first year the number of districts attending the Teach Ohio job fair had to be limited."

   He notes there is greater competition for job openings in social studies and elementary education, especially in suburban districts.

   Margie Bogenschutz, director of the Fisher College of Business' undergraduate career services, said this was a "banner" year for recruiting on campus. Last fall at the university's annual Career Day, representatives from 150 companies talked with students, she said.

   Undergraduate human resources management majors are entering a highly competitive job market because a lot of the people they are competing with for entry level in the field of human resources have a master's degree, she added. This has been a trend for several years.

   "Fields related to technology, like information systems, are highest in demand," Bogenschutz said. "Consulting also is a growing field. Another trend has been opportunities in the area of corporate financial management as more companies are looking at undergraduates as potential employees for positions which in the past have gone to MBAs. There also has been an increase in the number of undergraduates who are receiving signing bonuses. Up until recently, most signing bonuses were offered to people at the MBA level."

   Ray Miller, assistant dean in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said agribusiness and applied economics majors are in high demand in sales, marketing and financial fields. The employment outlook also is favorable for food industry majors specializing in product development and quality control and turf grass majors looking for careers as golf course assistant superintendents, he said. In addition, the agricultural construction systems management graduates are demanding premium salaries at graduation.

   "There were fewer recruiters visiting campus this year, but that is not a reflection of the job market for food, agricultural and environmental sciences graduates because more students are getting internships and companies are hiring from their intern pools," Miller said. "Companies also are mailing openings to the college and using the college's Internet job posting sites."

   He noted that he has not seen a decline in demand for graduates from the college even with the many mergers that are occurring in agribusiness. Across the college, he sees no area of enrollment that is graduating more students than meet the demand currently.

   Average starting salaries for graduates in specific fields include: between $26,000 and $27,000 for graduates with a BA in agriculture; $25,187 in Franklin County for teachers with a bachelor's in education; $31,250 for corporate accounting majors; $37,436 for management information systems majors; $28,072 for marketing majors; $39,355 for information sciences majors; $43,800 for computer science engineering majors; $30,000 for food science majors; $28,702 for communications majors; and $28,272 for English majors.

Contacts:
Margie Bogenschutz, Fisher College, 292-8586
Pam Park-Curry, Arts and Sciences, 292-7055
Ray Miller, Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 292- 1589
Rosemary Hill, Engineering, 292-6651
Thomas Vecchione, Education, 292-2741