College graduates are experiencing the best job market in four years as a stronger economy leads more employers to ramp up hiring.
Employers expect to hire 17.4% more new college graduates in 2006 and 2007 than in 2005 and 2006, according to a new survey by the Bethlehem, Pa.-based National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Signing bonuses range from $1,000 to $10,000, with the average at $3,568. And employers reported plans to boost their starting salary offers by 4.6% over last year, nearly a full percentage point higher than increases for the classes of 2006 and 2005.
Tomorrow will bring another set of housing statistics, and I know of no reason to think those statistics will put smiles on too many faces. But if the cards are all about to fall the wrong way, you would be hard pressed to tell it from the labor market.