Elise Johnson McDougald

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Beyond.com, a network of niche career communities, recently reported that entry-level jobs increased by 80 percent in Q1 2010, providing hope that the job outlook is beginning to brighten for recent graduates seeking entry-level employment.

According to a release, in addition to experiencing year over year growth, entry-level jobs in Q1 2010 were up an additional 19 percent from pre-recession job numbers in Q1 2008.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 2.4 million students will graduate with bachelors and associates degree this year, accumulating even more applicants into the job pool and suggesting a daunting job search ahead for entry-level job seekers.

Faced with challenges to find jobs in their desired careers, many college graduates have turned to part-time or temporary work to gain experience until the job market picks up again. Although competition for full-time employment remains tight, the Beyond.com First Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report indicates that more than 60 percent of employers that posted jobs are looking for permanent full-time employees, which is another positive sign that the job market is stabilizing.

The report also highlights that more than 61 percent of industries experienced a quarterly percentage gain in online job postings in Q1 2010. Three industries that demonstrated overall stability and growth for entry-level jobs in Q1 2010 were Engineering, Healthcare and Information Technology, with quarterly increases of 41.6 percent, 16.4 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively.

"There is good news. The job market is opening up for entry-level positions," said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com. "While there are more positions available, recent grads need to remain mindful that they will also be challenged by 2009 graduates who are still on the hunt for a permanent position. Plain and simple, it is important to be proactive in their job search and consider all opportunities to gain experience, even if that means taking a temporary or contracted position to get their foot in the door."

Report information:

beyond.com/Media/QuarterlyReports.asp.

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Source Citation
"Beyond.com Release Job Market Report." Professional Services Close-Up 17 June 2010. Business Economics and Theory. Web. 9 July 2010.
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