March 24, 2008 10:35 AM

Good news, bad news for college grads
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 10:35 AM

The Globe's Chris Ready reports that a survey by MonsterTrak, the student division of Monster.com, shows a mixed outlook for job seekers coming out of college:

First, the bad news: With the economy slumping, only 59 percent of employers surveyed plan to hire 2008 graduates in the spring or summer; that compares with 76 percent of employers last year, MonsterTRAK said.

The good news? Roughly a third of employers with hiring plans said they will increase their starting salaries; the anticipated average starting salary for 2008 graduates is $39,500, up from last year's average of $36,000, MonsterTRAK said.

One survey finding may give parents pause; 48 percent of the students surveyed said they expect to spend some time living with their parents after graduation, MonsterTRAK said, and 43 percent of 2007 graduates are still living with their parents, mostly because of limited financial resources.

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