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Half of College Grads Struggle to Find WorkFrom the CBS 8 Troy Newsroom-- New government data shows one in two college graduates are underemployed or jobless. Now that may sound discouraging for those who will be receiving their degrees, but Troy University career experts predict those numbers will improve.
Last year had the highest number of college grads who were underemployed or unemployed in at least 11 years.
About 1.5 million college grads last year couldn't find work or took a job that didn't fully use their skills and knowledge. CBS 8 News caught up with one of those graduates who has taken a job that had nothing to do with his major, because he says in this economy, any work will do.
If you asked Byron Thetford five years ago what he'd be doing today, this wouldn't have been his answer.
"I majored in History Ed. and Social Science," he says. "Now I'm the Text Book Manager at Barnes and Nobles." While Thetford says the pay isn't as good as a history teacher, he says it was better than hunting for a job that he may have never landed. "I got offered this job as soon as I graduated with a degree, but I have enjoyed the business side really more than I thought I would have six years ago when I started undergrad," he says. Career Adviser Lauren Cole says while the numbers seem bleak, more jobs are opening up. "There's been some good numbers coming out. About ten percent of this graduating class is getting jobs out of college above what last years was," says Cole. Cole says those graduating with nursing, teaching, math or computer science degrees are most likely to find work. But those majoring in anthropology, psychology, philosophy or history may have a harder time. "It worries us, but I feel if you have a plan, you should be alright," says Larry Henry, who is graduating this summer. "Even if you have to take something that's not in your field, just to get you by, you have to take it," says Jeffry McDurmount who is graduating in May. Theftford says word to the wise, any job is precious, and you may never know, it could be something you never knew you liked. "I've really enjoyed doing it. I'm around books all day, so I kind of like that," he says. Another reason students say they're feeling anxious about finding work is because they'll have student loans to pay off.
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