Two postsecondary schools in South Carolina said their recent graduates are feeling more optimistic about finding work. Officials at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) and the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) said current data indicates that many recent graduates have already found a job in their field of expertize. Rachel Hoover, director of career services at USCB, told the Beaufort Gazette that a recent survey of students who graduated with specialized degrees on their resumes in May or December 2011 found that approximately 87 percent found work related to their majors. Matteel Jones, vice president of student affairs at TCL, told the news agency that students are finding work in their fields quickly because the school studies the local job market to make sure that there will be a demand for graduates of the programs that it offers. The national unemployment rate for people 25 years and older with some college education or a 2 year degree is also on the decline, falling from 8.3% in October to 7.6% in November 2011. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with an advanced degree on their resume have the potential to earn $1,000 more per week than those with some or no college education. |