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GREENSBORO — It isn't the best of economic times, but many observers say those in the class of 2008 still have a good chance of landing a job.

Employers expect to hire 8 percent more new college graduates this year than last year. That is half of what was expected when the same survey was conducted last fall by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Those who have

Breana Greenlee is busy making arrangements for a big move to Atlanta this summer. A business administration major at N.C. A&T, Greenlee accepted a position with Norfolk Southern last month and will join the company's management training program.

She took the job after an extensive search and turned down several other offers. She did do some nail biting, though.

"I was pretty optimistic and hopeful, but as time went on into March and April I began to get worried," Greenlee said.

Greenlee's job search began more than a year ago when she entered one of several internships. An Archdale native, she had never been outside the Triad for more than a week before accepting the internship with 3M in Minnesota. When she got back to school last fall she made sure to attend every career fair held at A&T. She also made regular trips to meet with the counselors at the school's student career center.

"I would say not enough students take advantage of the office of career services," Greenlee said.

Getting help

UNCG Career Services Director Donna Seckar agrees and commends Greenlee for being prepared. Seckar said student attendance at career fairs is climbing, though, thanks to better marketing.

"We're trying more and more to get the word out early. You need to be doing more and more to find work," Seckar said.

More surprising, Seckar said, is that employer attendance at career fairs remained high this year. There was a waiting list for employers during the school's last fair.

While demand for professionals in the sciences is climbing, there are some familiar career fields still looking for talented graduates.

"Nurses and teachers are still in demand, as they were before," Seckar said.

Still many are watching the economy closely.

"Students should know that things are going to be a little tighter," said Andrew Brod, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNCG.

Brod said hiring will not be affected by a recession until months after it occurs — during a recovery period — or if the recession lasts longer than expected.

"If you listen to talk radio and politicians talking and the subtext of the immigration debate, you think the challenge is do we have enough jobs for the people," Brod said. "The real challenge is, do we have enough skilled people for the jobs?"

What's in demand

Analysts continue to see demand grow for employees in core science and math disciplines, which offer some of the highest starting salaries.

The average starting salary for a chemical engineer is $63,616 a year and is among the highest salaries offered to recent college graduates, according to an NACE survey.

Katie Tarney hopes to enter the field. She is a chemistry major at UNCG and chose graduate school over entering the job market this summer, a decision she made when she decided to swap majors from political science.

Still, she's glad she doesn't have to compete in the current job market.

"I'm hoping that the job market will improve after I graduate from grad school," Tarney said. "I definitely feel like the tech industry is growing right now, especially in medical fields."

Those who have not

Greenlee's sorority sister, Ashley Cone, has been to the job fairs, worked the internships and applied for jobs in marketing, which is her major. But with graduation looming she hasn't had an offer.

She believes companies are hesitant to extend an offer before graduation because the job might not be there in a month.

"I think it is because they're as unsure as the students are," Cone said.

She isn't letting the uncertainty dampen her spirits. Graduation is this weekend and she's earned a little joy.

"I'm still excited about graduating. I know something will come my way," she said.

Future plans

Cone will continue her job search during the next several weeks and beyond if necessary. Her parents have said she can move back in with them in Chester, Va., if it comes to that. She's optimistic it won't.

Tarney found out this week that she was accepted to graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where she'll study analytical chemistry.

Greenlee will spend the few weeks she has between school and her new job traveling across China with a student organization.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com