College Students Anticipate Joining The Workforce As Graduation Approaches

The spring semester is nearly complete. Local colleges and universities are gearing up for graduation.

Last year's graduates entered the workforce in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many educators have reason to believe 2021 could be more promising on the job front.  

Many Class of 2021 graduates are considering whether now is a good time to take a job.

"Pretty much everything is digital, which honestly, my perspective is that almost makes it harder because you don't get to show them who you are as a person," Oral Roberts University student-body president and graduate Mackenzie Buhr said.

Buhr graduated Saturday and recently accepted a job in the nursing field in Dallas. She told News On 6 some of her best memories have come from college and that graduation is certainly bittersweet. 

"A year ago, I had no idea that I'd be where I'm standing today," Buhr said. 

While online applications can be a source of frustration, Buhr believes there is no better time than now to enter the medical field. 

"Knowing that, no matter if another pandemic happens, I do have job security and there's always needs in the hospital," Buhr said. 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers estimates that the average starting salary for 2021 graduates earning a four-year degree is expected to increase across the board.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports a 9% decrease in job acceptance between 2019 and 2020 graduates, who received a bachelor's degree in their 20s. However, NACE recently found that businesses plan to hire 7.2% more new college graduates from this year's graduating class compared to last year. 

"I have several friends that have multiple offers in accounting majors, like engineering majors, healthcare. I mean, I think it's all across the board," Buhr said. 

University officials also expressed a level of optimism at the job market.

“If you look at major job websites, you can see how many more remote job opportunities there are than even a year ago. I think it is very realistic that someone could find a completely remote job in today’s economy,” OSU-Tulsa career services coordinator Jessica Hendrick said in a statement, in part. “It is getting better every day. I think if a student takes their time and is not in a rush, they can find employment.”

OU-Tulsa also released a statement on the upcoming job hunt for graduates to News on 6. 

“Graduates entering the workforce in 2021 are experiencing a unique set of circumstances. Graduation 2020 was during the very beginning of the pandemic. We saw a lot of graduates who wanted to practice interviewing virtually as they were facing that new experience and weren’t necessarily comfortable with it yet. The job market was also very uncertain last year. But 2021 finds graduates more used to virtual interaction, remote work, and with a generally more stable job market.”