During the time they were in college (2008-2012), most Class of 2012 college grads witnessed their families face real income declines due to job losses, cut hours, or lack of wage growth, said the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in its May 3 report, “The Class of 2012: Labor market for young graduates remains grim.” 

As many of these students were proudly taking the traditional walk at graduation events in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on employment statistics and job growth.  The stark numbers could not have escaped their notice.   Unemployment had risen to 8.2 percent, the highest in a year.

Yet, American employers said they expected to hire 10.5 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2012 than they did from the Class of 2011.  According to the Job Outlook 2012 Spring Update Survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE),this is the second consecutive year in which employers have adjusted their hiring expectations upward.

“Although employers haven’t revised their earlier projections significantly, upward movement, along with other positive economic indicators, show the job market for new college graduates is improving steadily,” said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

For this year,  the average number of jobs posted by respondents has gone from 105 in 2011 to 116. In 2010, employers reported an average of just 45 job postings.

Engineering deans and placement officers at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) shared their thoughts about the 2012 job market and jobs in STEM with US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.      

USBE&IT: How many engineering students did you graduate in 2012?

Dr. Glenn: The College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M University graduated fifty-six engineering students in 2012. This includes 55 undergraduate students and one graduate student.  We have a December graduation as well. For December 2011 we had thirty total, 26 undergrad, 4 grad.

USBE&IT: How many STEM graduates in all disciplines did your institution graduate in 2012?

Dr. Glenn: In the STEM fields, Alabama A&M graduated ninety-seven students in 2012. This includes eighty-three undergraduates and 14 graduates. We have a December graduation as well. For December 2011 we had 69 total, fifty undergrad, nineteen grad.

“I think it's a tough job market, but there are still way more jobs than there are qualified people. We tend to graduate thirty students in a combination. One of our 2012 graduates started an internship at Texas Instruments and got offered a job in July. Other companies like Northrop Grumman have also hired our students. There’s still a lot of demand for graduates particularly if they're flexible about geography. Some of our students have chosen to go the PE [Professional Engineer] route. Other students choose our selective in information assuranceŻNSA [National Security Agency] credentials add to their degrees.”

To become PE licensed, engineers must complete a four-year college degree, work under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, pass two intensive competency exams and earn a license from their state's board. Then, to retain their licenses, PEs must continually maintain and improve their skills throughout their careers.

“As you know, we have a small engineering program.  Of eleven graduates at the May graduation ceremony four went to industry; one to civilian Department of Defense service, one to uniformed military service (commissioned in the Navy), and three to graduate school.  Of the other two, one is still looking for a position in industry and the other, a summer graduate, is looking now at industry and graduate school.

We are small and have had a track record of placing students, and I consider this another good year. I believe that as long as we focus on making sure that our students become quality learners, they will do well this year and beyond.  This nation will always need good, U.S. engineers.”

“The College of Engineering graduated 65 students for 2012.  Primary recruiters still remain in the defense industryŻ Raytheon, NAVSEA, Lockheed Martin, etc. But we are beginning to see more recruiting from the automotive industry e.g. GM, Volkswagen, and NISSAN, in the state of Tennessee, as it has attracted major investments in manufacturing plants and the need for a more technical workforce.  We expect our graduates to demonstrate technical competency, leadership skills, and global awareness to work in the U.S. and abroad.  We promote the "Global Engineer" concept advocated by the National Academy of Engineers and are aligning our academic programs with this in mind.”

 
USBE&IT: How many STEM graduates in all disciplines did your institution graduate in 2012?

Hargrove: About 160

USBE&IT: How many of your STEM students graduated with job offers?

Hargrove: Unknown for all STEM; 80-90 percent for Engineering.

“I have not heard of any of our 90+ grads without employment. We sent 23 systems engineers to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) because of the master's program. We also commissioned sixteen Army and Air Force second lieutenants and sent folks to the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] and NSA [National Security Agency]. We are proud that our programs attract corporate and government entities.  About 20 students went to graduate school across the country, including our programs at Tuskegee.

Sarah Stringer,
Director, Career Development and Placement
Tuskegee University

“Within two months following graduation, the first destination of baccalaureate graduates in engineering was 93 percent.  The first destination of our master’s graduates in engineering was 100 percent.  We attribute this high percentage of first destination results for students to quality academic programs; students' appreciation for the work ethic, their willingness to participate in cooperative education and summer internships and partnerships that Tuskegee University shares with employers throughout the country.”

USBE&IT: What are two things that employers should do to attract and hire your STEM students?

Dr. Glenn: One important thing that employers do well is become engaged with the university.  Beyond attending job fairs, employers get involved with our advisory boards; they provide equipment to the programs, and fund scholarships.  This provides more permanent representations of their presence with the university and therefore gets built into the psyche of the students.

Another thing that employers do well is to provide cooperative education opportunities.  This is a win-win for all involved.  Students get much needed experience prior to full-time job placement, and employers get a less expensive evaluation period before making longer-term investments into their employees.

Dean Hargrove: The best way to attract students is to have visibility and invest in the program.  That means providing student support (e.g. scholarships, design projects, program/activity support) and/or partnerships with faculty via research.  The corporations that have presence and support our programs have the best choice of hiring the best students.  Alumni from the corporations also seem to have the greatest impact for recruitment.

USBE&IT: What are two things that employers fail to do to attract and hire your STEM students?

Dean Hargrove: Not willing to invest in the program but requesting the best students from the program.  Also, allowing alums of the institution to play a greater role in recruiting students.

Dr. Glenn: One opportunity missed is to come to the classroom and present directly to students.  While students are drawn to the financial aspects of employment, they are also excited by the types of activities they would be involved in at a prospective place of employment.  They also fail to provide clear pictures of where a student to find themselves in a five or ten year horizon if they are employed by their organization.  Savvy students are interested in mobility and ascent in an organization.  Employers that provide information in this regard will be more attractive to the students.

USBE&IT: What are two things that employers should do to attract and hire your STEM students?

Dr. Glenn:  One: Join the advisory board of a university and become active members.  Two: Invest in the university.  Invest time, resources, equipment, and knowledge to the students.  This is a way to build positive relationships with the students so that by the time they graduate, they are already thinking of the company. 

Dean Hargrove: Provide more professional development opportunities for students, support the academic programs in any way they can, and demonstrate a commitment to the industry-academic partnership.