Early indications suggest the college Class of 2008 will enjoy a strong job market, according to a new national report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2008 Fall Preview survey said they plan to hire 16 percent more new college graduates in 2007-08 than they hired in 2006-07.

“The job market for new college graduates has been gathering strength over the last several years, and this year we’re seeing that trend continue,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

In fact, this is the fifth straight year in which employers have projected double-digit increases in college hiring. Service-sector employers have the most aggressive hiring plans and expect to increase their college hires by nearly 18 percent over 2006-07. Manufacturers anticipate an increase of nearly 15 percent in college hires.

Overall, nearly 58 percent of the employers responding to NACE’s survey reported plans to increase their college hiring; more than one-third (36.5 percent) said they’ll maintain their college hiring at 2006-07 levels. Less than 6 percent expect to trim their college hiring.

Fueling the increase: company growth coupled with retirements.

“We also heard from a number of employers that they are looking to hire more new college graduates to feed their ‘talent pipeline,’ “ says Mackes. “Employers are looking at new grads as their future leaders and want to groom them for those roles.”

Does this mean you can sit back and let employers come to you? No, say the experts. Employers are impressed by “go-getters,” and a recent national study conducted by NACE found that Class of 2007 grads who used the career center enjoyed greater job-search success than those who went their own way.

NIACC’s Career Center offers the following services to help students prepare for and conduct an effective job search: online or individualized assistance in application completion, cover letters, resumes, thank you letters, and mock interviews as well as identifying careers related to your major. Students and alumni may also sign up to receive e-mail notification of job leads.

Visit the NIACC Career Center today in the Administration Building, Room 106 or online at www.niacc.edu/career_center.