IN GOOD TIMES, college commencement is seen as the end of childhood and the beginning of life as an adult and of an adult career. The job of commencement speakers is to challenge students to make the most of their talents and education.
These are not good times. For many of this spring’s graduates, the first challenge they face is not to begin a career or to change the world, but simply to find a job.
A survey of the graduates of 2009 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that just 19.7 percent of those who had applied for jobs had been hired; in 2007, that figure was 51 percent.
The graduates who are looking for work are not just those who had aspired to make their way in the world of business. At Emporia State University, the students of the Teachers College, who began their college careers in a state that was suffering a much-publicized teacher shortage, graduated into a state in which the Kansas Association of School Administrators has estimated that 1,300 teachers have lost their jobs as public school districts have pared budgets to meet the realities of a deep recession.
For too many members of the Class of 2009, their post-college years will begin with unemployment or under-employment.
This is not the first class to emerge into a world that is not ready to use their talents. During the Great Depression, college graduates had to be prepared for, at best, entry-level jobs in struggling businesses or subsistence teaching jobs. It was years before many of those graduates finally had the opportunity to use their education to make a secure place for themselves in the world.
That generation, the great- and great-great-grandparents of this new generation, survived and prevailed in a world betrayed by greed and wracked by war. Their descendants will do the same.
But first, they must meet the challenge of accepting disappointment and maintaining hope.
And the rest of us must meet the challenge of healing the nation and making it, once again, a place of hope and possibilities for the Class of 2009 and the classes to follow.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy recently posted a list of companies that he knew were hiring IT. Maybe he could re-post it here now........... sorry, none where I'm at..... for US people, anyway......
May 19, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I liked Patricks statement:
"For too many members of the Class of 2009, their post-college years will begin with unemployment or under-employment."
Since when did a college degree come with a job Guarantee? Perhaps it is time Americans re-think that all people go to college after high school.
Vocational training would be a better fit for some, as well as on the job training in building trades.
And don't forget the U.S. military, they are always hiring and have programs enabling service members to get a higher education, not to mention the many schools in each branch of the military.
And a military job is somewhat recession proof.
Just a thought.
May 19, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"goodoleboy recently posted a list of companies that he knew were hiring IT. Maybe he could re-post it here now........... sorry, none where I'm at..... for US people, anyway......"
Last I knew ESU only graduates around 20 or less CIS majors now, far less then earlier this decade, minus off those that do not pursue an MBA immediately and out of what is left I would wager they are not having near the problems as indicated in this article if they are willing to relocate, finding an IT job in this area is pretty laughable, the market just is not there.
Teachers, well they might just have to move to another state, the shortage in teachers we had in this state were mostly in smaller schools and in western Kansas, not so much the eastern portion, and in fact the need has never been higher for special ed teachers and others of certain discipline.
Bottom line, I am not denying the job market has contracted, it has. But there are a lot of junk College degrees out there, English majors, Sociallogy and Psych (without a masters) list goes on. Some of that also has played a factor in this equation as well.
May 19, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The world needs ditch diggers too.
May 19, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
You read way, way too much into that, goodoleboy. This article was not just about ESU grads. Nor just about jobs in Emporia. There's a reason ESU (and basically everyone else) doesn't graduate nearly as many CIS or CS majors anymore. But ESU is mentioned, and since you had a list of places hiring, I simply thought you could pass it along. Unfortunately, I do not have a list of places hiring to pass along.
May 19, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Never mind, I looked it up myself. Per goodoleboy:
Hallmark
Payless
Koch
Spirit Aerospace
Cerner
I could go on but all were hiring fresh IT grads and seasoned people in the last year. Finding an IT job in the Topeka/Wichita/KC area should not be very hard judging from what I have seen/heard.
Worth checking out. Good luck to all grads!
May 19, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The market for IS was artificially inflated with the Y2K debacle, then came a recession, more outsourcing... Pretty much anyone with a votech Cisco cert could walk into 50-60k a year job around Y2K, who could expect that to last.
I stand by what I said, last year a friend of mine's daughter graduated from ESU, those companies listed were companies that were on campus recruiting grads, she interviewed at 4 of them before settling in at Hallmark. If one can provide value to an organization, one will find employment.
May 19, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Sounds like good opportunities then, best of luck to all those searching. I started in IT long, long before Y2K, it was much better even then than it is now.
May 19, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The training time for the use of a shovel is very short. You hold onto the long skinny part and put the flat pointy sharp end into the dirt.
May 19, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
That must be my problem. I'm dyslexic with a shovel :)
May 19, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Yeah, I had to learn the hard way.;) The pool turned out OK though.
May 19, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
Lots of Republicans in Emporia. Lots. I get that. But, instead of complaints, might you offer up your own solutions? Otherwise, your comments are empty.
I look at President Obama's handling of the economy optimistically. He has to do something with the inherited recession, and at the moment I have to believe his actions will work. He has taken action.
May 19, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Gee.... I listed all the places goodoleboy said was hiring....... I guess I forgot to yell "Change" as I posted...... my bad......
May 19, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sundancekid (anonymous) says...
I'm referring to the posts at the top of this thread, not necessarily yours (open_eyes). Then again, it's a constant theme I read in all the threads; pessimism.
May 19, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
For how many years now?
May 19, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
I actually agree with rbow. Since when did a degree guarantee a job? Obviously I wouldn't wish hard times on anyone, although I think maybe this is exactly what the U.S. needed. A little reality check when it comes to being thankful for having a job versus feeling entitled to having a job. Don't get your feathers all ruffled - obviously that does not apply to everyone.
May 19, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Swallow your pride and pick up a shovel is a solution. If there aren't enough "college" type jobs to go around perhaps people need to start thinking about alternatives.
May 19, 2009 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks....last time I heard the construction industry was about as hard hit as any.....don't know how many ditches are being dug right now.....I'll leave it to others to point out how quickly that might change once The President's stimulus package gets in the pipeline.
Pipeline.....maybe the stimulus pipeline ditch needs to be dug?
May 19, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Yeah, the stimulus package money is there(in theory anyway), lets give these kids shovels and they can fix the roads. Sounds like a plan. Make it so.
May 19, 2009 at 8:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gemini (anonymous) says...
4 million new jobs? Riiiiiiiiiight. I'll believe it when I see it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but ESU didn't even have a Career Fair this semester due to no interest from companies. Yep, I see 4 million new jobs right around the corner *sarcasm*
Taking an underpaid job is equal to being unemployed, IMO. I just graduated with a BS in Biology. I also have a mortgage and bills just like everyone else. I can't live off of an "underpaid" job. Even if I'm gainfully employed, by not making ends meet I'll still lose my house, car and utilities will be shut off. This isn't about swallowing pride...it's about survival.
Contrary to sundancekid's claims of recurring pessimism, this is REALITY and a very serious situation for many graduates.
May 20, 2009 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )