Mixed market for '07 college grads

There's good news and bad news for college graduates entering the work force, according to a new survey.

The survey, undertaken annually by Monster, the job-search firm with offices in Maynard, found that 76 percent of employers plan to hire college graduates this year, up from last year's 72 percent.

College graduates are confident as well, with 89 percent expecting to receive at least one job offer by graduation, concluded a survey by MonsterTRAK, the student division of Monster.

But not all the survey's findings were so encouraging, according to Monster, the flagship brand of Monster Worldwide Inc. of New York.

Employers who participated in the survey expect to receive 73 applications on average for each available entry-level position, and 63 percent of employers indicated that 2007 entry-level wages will not increase over last year's.

The survey contacted more than 985 employers and 2,545 students, Monster said.

One survey finding may be sobering to parents who have just shelled out big bucks to cover tuition costs: 48 percent of prospective graduates plan to "boomerang" and spend at least time living at home, the same percentage as last year, Monster said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)