The Department of Labor reported that, for the month of April, unemployment among those under 25 years of age is 19.6%. This is the highest it’s been since 1948. With these statistics, and the fact that I just crossed this age interval a few months ago, maybe I should consider myself lucky to be employed right now?
There’s one story going around about a Ohio State student that maps very similar to my own college career. Matt Grant went to Ohio State University majoring in civil engineering and did three internships during his college career. I too went to a public university and completed four internships during my tenure. Matt searched for a year to find a job and, when he graduated in 2009, was finally able to land one – as a waiter for the Clarion Inn. When I graduated, I was lucky enough to land a job at a Big 4 Consulting firm, only my “luck” was relative to how high I could go, not simply being employed. I had a handful of offers and at the time, consulting was the most lucrative choice. Back then, if you can even remember, it wasn’t about landing a job; it was about which job you landed.
The only differences between Matt and I are one, degree choice. Civil engineers face tough prospects regardless of the economy. And more importantly, timing. 2006 versus 2009. If I had graduated and come straight out of college into this economy, I’m not sure I’d have a job at all.
Photo Credit: alexfrance
