2015 Job Outlook Optimistic for Local College Graduates

ST. CLOUD - Area college graduates are expected to see more opportunities for employment this year.

According to the 11th annual MN College Job Outlook survey, more than 50 percent of employers surveyed plan to increase their hiring in 2014, a 35.9 percent increase from last year. It's the highest percentage of employers planning to increase hiring since 2007.

The industries most likely to increase hiring are staffing, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services and business services.

When it comes to recruiting methods most commonly used by college recruiters, job fairs are number one, being utilized by 92.5 percent of employers. Websites, employee referrals and campus websites also received high marks. A record number of employers (70.9 percent) are now using social media to recruit employees.

The job outlook survey was done by Andrew Ditlevson, associate director of St. Cloud State University's Career Services Center. This year, 103 employers took part in the study.