Career Services Center reports improving job market for graduates

The results of the Western Washington University 2012-13 employment survey indicate a slow but continuing improvement in the job market for recent graduates as compared to the past few years of economic volatility.

Western bachelor’s degree recipients reported the largest gains. Eighty two percent reported employment within six months of graduation as compared to 80 percent the previous year, and field-related employment increased to 53 percent from the previous year’s 51 percent. However, average starting salaries were down 4 percent, decreasing to $37,097 a year from $38,741 the previous year.

Top employers of recent bachelor’s degree graduates include (in order): Boeing, Logos Bible Software, Starbucks, Microsoft, Nordstrom, AmeriCorps, Costco, Target, Amazon, AVA.ai, and Google.

Overall employment for recipients of teaching certificates improved to 94 percent this year, with almost two-thirds employed as teachers within the state of Washington.

The employment rate for master’s degree recipients (84 percent) is slightly lower by one percent than last year’s results.

The value of internship experience was again strongly supported by this year’s survey results. Graduates with internship experience again found employment sooner and reported an average starting salary 19.6 percent higher than students without internship experience.

Complete survey results can be found on the Career Services Center’s website for this year and years past at: http://www.wwu.edu/careers/.

For more information, visit the Career Services Center offices in Old Main 280, or call 360-650-3240.