Economy Chills Hiring Prospects for College Graduates, Report Says

Economic news is dismal these days, and college graduates' job prospects are no exception, according to a report scheduled to be released today by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University.

The university plans to make its report, "2008-2009 Recruiting Trends," available on the Collegiate Employment Research Institute's Web site.

Hiring for graduates at all degree levels will decrease by 8 percent over last year, says the annual report, which is based on employers' projections.

In this tight market, the best advice for students is to line up a job now—if not sooner, said Philip D. Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute. Many employers, contending with economic uncertainty, are looking to complete their hiring as soon as possible, he said.