BETHLEHEM, PA—As has been the case in recent years, graduating students in the post-recession period see limited employment prospects and are consequently more focused on the experiential component of the job and the security that the job offers, according to a recent report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
NACE’s Class of 2015 Student Survey found that this outlook is evidenced by a near-universal preference for personal growth opportunities (93.2 percent), strong preferences for job security (86.2 percent), and a good benefits package (79.9 percent), and a diminished preference for rapid advancement (57.5 percent) and a high starting salary (52.4 percent). (See Figure 1)
In addition, despite being only moderately ranked, two socially conscious preferences—the ability to improve one’s community (67.9 percent) and an employer that embraces diversity (61.8 percent)—have been emerging as increasingly important to students in the past few years.
Figure 1: Employer/Job preferences of students entering the work force
|
% of respondents rating “important” |
|
| Opportunity for personal growth | 93.2% |
| Job security | 86.2% |
| Friendly co-workers | 85.1% |
| Good benefits package | 79.9% |
| Recognition for good performance | 74.4% |
| Clearly defined assignments | 72.7% |
| Ability to improve community | 67.9% |
| Opportunity for creativity | 65.0% |
| Diversity | 61.8% |
| Opportunity for rapid advancement | 57.5% |
| High starting salary | 52.4% |
| Located in a diverse and tolerant community | 48.3% |
| Located close to home | 46.8% |
| Well-recognized name | 46.2% |
| Casual atmosphere | 43.4% |
| “Green” company | 30.5% |
Source: Class of 2015 Student Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers
About the Class of 2015 Student Survey
The Class of 2015 Student Survey was administered to 39,950 students at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels through NACE’s college members from February 11, 2015, to April 30, 2015. The focus of the survey report is the 9,184 bachelor’s degree students who indicated that they would be graduating—or already had graduated—during the 2014-2015 academic school year (July 1 to June 30), and were thus members of the Class of 2015. The Class of 2015 Student Survey was sponsored by Enterprise. Highlights from the Class of 2015 Student Survey are available at http://www.naceweb.org/surveys/student.aspx
About NACE
Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has been the leading source of information about the employment of college graduates. For more information, visit http://www.naceweb.org. NACE maintains a virtual press room for the media at http://www.naceweb.org/press-releases.aspx
