Source: Kerri Day Keller, 785-532-1691, kdkeller@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.k-state.edu/ces
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Monday, Feb. 2, 2009

POSTGRADUATION REPORT SHOWS THAT EVEN IN TIMES OF RECESSION K-STATE GRADS CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN THE JOB MARKET

MANHATTAN -- Despite trying economic times nationwide, Kansas State University bachelor's degree graduates are still landing jobs in their field of expertise at the same rate as the year before, said Kerri Day Keller, director of K-State's career and employment services.

"While the country has entered a recession, there has been no change in the overall percentage of K-State bachelor's degree recipients finding employment," she said. "In addition, a number of K-Staters continue to successfully move on to graduate and professional school."

According to the annual Postgraduation Bachelor's Degree Statistics and Experiential Learning Statistics report by career and employment services, 72 percent of K-State's 2007-2008 graduates surveyed are employed in a career-related job. That's the same percentage as last year, which is up slightly from the three years prior. The survey polled nearly 3,000 bachelor's degree graduates about their job search.

Keller said that K-State graduates are often sought after by employers.

"We have more than 800 employers come to K-State's career fairs and recruiting events every year," Keller said. "That alone says something about the level of interest in our graduates."

She said that university alumni also play a key role in promoting the quality of K-State's programs to their employers.

The survey, which has an annual response rate of 80 percent, also asks graduates where they are employed. Of those with jobs, 66 percent accepted positions in Kansas and 80 percent of graduates accepted jobs in the five-state area of Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

In addition to the graduates employed, another 20 percent are enrolled in graduate or professional programs, 6 percent are seeking employment six months following their graduation and 2 percent are occupied in other non-career activities.

The statistics cover students who graduated in summer and fall 2007 and spring 2008.

K-State's postgraduation data from recent graduates is available at http://www.k-state.edu/ces/students/ and clicking on the "hiring and salary stats" link.