Trends & Predictions

College Hiring Rebounds to Increase 7.2%

March 22, 2021 | By Kevin Gray

TRENDS & PREDICTIONS
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TAGS: coronavirus, nace insights, surveys, trends and predictions,

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Employers project hiring 7.2% more new college graduates from the Class of 2021 than they hired from the Class of 2020, according to NACE’s Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update. That’s a sharp increase from fall 2020, when employers expected to reduce college hiring slightly. (See Figure 1.)

The rebound in hiring suggests optimism on the part of employers, fueled by expectations around the reopening of shuttered businesses, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and the addition of jobs to the economy. While not at the pre-pandemic hiring levels seen in 2019, the overall increase does signal strong movement in a positive direction.

Further evidence of the rallying job market for college graduates is evident in the individual hiring plans of respondents to this survey. Almost 30% of respondents now report that they will hire more new college graduates—up from 16.5% in the fall—and just 8% plan to decrease hiring, down significantly from 31% reporting such plans in the fall. (See Figure 2.)

The Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update survey updates hiring projections for the Class of 2021. The original projections were reported in Job Outlook 2021, which was published in October 2020. The Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update survey was conducted from February 17 – March 12, 2021. Of the 207 total respondents, 146 were NACE employer members, representing 17.1% of eligible member respondents. The Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update survey was also distributed to nonmember companies; this group provided an additional 61 responses. The Job Outlook 2021 report is available in MyNACE.

Figure 1: Job Outlook hiring projections, 2011 – 2021*

Year
2021
Fall-0.1%
Spring Update7.2%
2020
Fall5.8%
Spring Update6.3%
2019
Fall16.6%
Spring Update10.7%
2018
Fall4.0%
Spring Update-1.3%
2017
Fall5.8%
Spring Update5.0%
2016
Fall11.0%
Spring Update5.2%
2015
Fall8.3%
Spring Update9.6%
2014
Fall7.8%
Spring Update8.6%
2013
Fall13.0%
Spring Update2.1%
2012
Fall9.5%
Spring Update10.2%
2011
Fall13.5%
Spring Update19.3%
Year Fall Spring Update
2021 -0.1% 7.2%
2020 5.8% 6.3%
2019 16.6% 10.7%
2018 4.0% -1.3%
2017 5.8% 5.0%
2016 11.0% 5.2%
2015 8.3% 9.6%
2014 7.8% 8.6%
2013 13.0% 2.1%
2012 9.5% 10.2%
2011 13.5% 19.3%
Source: Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update, National Association of Colleges and Employers. *Please note: The projections for the classes of 2014 – 2021 are for U.S. locations only. Projections for college classes prior to the Class of 2014 are shown for informational purposes only and should not be compared to projections for the classes of 2014 – 2021.

Figure 2: Hiring plans

Job Outlook
Job Outlook Spring Update 2021
Percent Increasing  Hires29.0%
Percent Maintaining Hires63.0%
Percent Decreasing Hires8.0%
Total Number of Respondents200
Job Outlook 2021 (Fall 2020)
Percent Increasing  Hires16.5%
Percent Maintaining Hires52.5%
Percent Decreasing Hires31.0%
Total Number of Respondents227
Job Outlook Percent Increasing  Hires Percent Maintaining Hires Percent Decreasing Hires Total Number of Respondents
Job Outlook Spring Update 2021 29.0% 63.0% 8.0% 200
Job Outlook 2021 (Fall 2020) 16.5% 52.5% 31.0% 227
Source: Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update, National Association of Colleges and Employers

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