Job Market Strong for College Graduates (1/2)

Employers in the United States expect to hire almost 20% more college graduates this year than last year. So says the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The group says employers are most interested in students with business, engineering and computer-related training. There is also great demand for business graduates with a master's of business administration or other advanced degree. Employers say they plan to increase hiring of M.B.A. graduates by 18%.

Increases in starting pay are also a sign of the demand for business and technical majors. The average pay offer to newly hired marketing graduates is reported up by more than 10% over last year. The increase is almost 8% for graduates in business administration.

The job market for college graduates has grown stronger and stronger since demand reached a low point in 2002. The unemployment rate for all workers is four and a half percent. But people with a bachelor's degree have a jobless rate under 2%.