College Grads Enter Tough Job Market

Many still looking for work in tough economy

The Class of 2009 is entering the toughest job market in their lifetimes.

With double-digit unemployment rates for twentysomethings, and recent surveys showing companies plan to hire fewer recent graduates this year, those without jobs face an uncertain future.

More than 1,400 students are graduating this weekend from Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas will graduate 3,500.

Britney Reed is leaving TWU with a psychology degree, and without a job. 

"It's scary, but you know, I've had something to do for the past 22 years of my life and now after 12 o'clock tomorrow I have no idea what I'm doing, where I'm going," Reed said. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to find a job."

Ann Hampton is graduating from TWU with a degree in social work.

"I've turned in applications, sent in resumes, and you sit and wait and it gets a little frustrating when you don't hear back," she said.

Still TWU is "lucky," said Dr. Richard Nicholas.

"Our particular set of programs, (and) the students are in better shape. Almost 50 percent of our students are in some version of the health professions," he said.

Career counselors said there are opportunities for the Class of 2009.

"We are still seeing, for college graduates, a better market than for some of our alumni and more experienced hires," said UNT's Dan Naegeli. "They're harder to find, but they're still there."

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