Labour market improving for PSE grads, CACEE report finds

According to the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers' 2012 Campus Recruitment and Benchmark Survey Report, PSE students graduating in 2013 will find an improving job market, especially if they've mastered core skills and are involved in co-curricular activities. According to a survey of 450 Canadian employers, core skills such as analytical ability, communication, and a strong work ethic are most valued by employers. Respondents also place a slightly higher premium on co-curricular involvement than on academic performance. The report notes that while the overall amount of on-campus employee recruitment will rise, as will the number of offers nationally, there will be a drop in BC and Ontario. The report also states that choice positions are going unfilled. Many employers surveyed were unable to fill the positions they had open. Of the total, one-quarter of vacant positions were for engineers, while almost 20% were in banking and finance. The report notes the average wage for new university graduate recruits in Canada dropped by 5% this year over last, and starting salaries for new graduate hires are not expected to rise significantly in the coming year. CACEE News Release