Graduates Looking for Work

By Sheryl Rich-Kern on Monday, June 1, 2009.

By now, most college seniors have graduated or soon will .

According to the consulting and trend forecasting firm, Twentysomething Inc., up to 65 percent of this year's college graduates are expected to return home upon graduation.”

That scenario is a far cry from most students' earlier expectations -- and those of their parents.

But getting a job right out of college is not easy these days.

As NHPR Correspondent Sheryl Rich-Kern reports.

Josh Manheim is a gangly 22 year-old.

He lingers in the kitchen as his mom puts dinner together.

"What are you making. Mom: This shrimp I’m making lobster Newburgh…"

Manheim recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire.

He packed up his campus apartment a few days ago.

Now he eats dinner with his parents.

"That’s one of the greatest things about being home, having a great home-cooked meal."

And with no salary to help pay off his debts, he doesn’t have a choice.

Manheim’s situation is typical.

A recent report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers estimates that more than 80 percent of college graduates who’ve applied for jobs don’t have one.

Manheim’s been looking since Christmas.

"I thought that sending my resume out and having it available to look at to so many people, that I would have more callbacks. And then those opportunities have been would so limited I really expected more interviews."

For now, Manheim doesn’t mind the free rent.

Fade up TV sounds, then fade under

He kicks back with his younger brother to watch sports in surround sound on a large flat panel TV.

TV sounds fade under sounds of becky playing with her son.

Rebecca Laliberte is a single mom. She doesn’t have much time to watch TV.

She’s got to keep track of two year-old Jackson.

A few weeks ago, Laliberte got her associates degree in human services from Nashua Community College.

Laliberte has been living with her mother for the past three years.

"It’s challenging. It’s two adults in a household. We clash sometimes."

Fade under typing sounds.

Every day, Laliberte flips open her laptop to scan the job postings.

"Here’s the dept of health and human services website that previously had all those job listings and now has two. The two job listings are for an attorney and a registered nurse. Neither of which I am qualified for."

Typing sounds, fade under

"I used to think people were exaggerating when they talked about the unemployment rates. Oh, come on there are jobs out there. Now that I’m looking, They weren’t kidding. They’re really are not jobs available right now."

She’ll call some of the contacts she’s made at school after she puts Jackson down for a nap,

"We’re not going to play playdough right now, sweetheart, sorry. (Crying) It’s hard to do phone interviews, (laughs) pretty much hard to get anything at home, which is why I’ve been doing online only because I can’t really make a lot of phone calls, go to job fairs, do anything."

LaLiberte’s situation is not unique.

Michael Levert is an economist for the state of Maine, and watches trends in the northeast.

He says all job hunters face similar challenges.

"You’re seeing increased competition, but certainly an 18 year old or a 22 year old with a good college degree - their struggles are no more severe than someone maybe 55 or 60 being laid off that has been at the same company for 30 years. "

LeVert thinks the recession will ease up in a year or two.

Bring up sound of dishes being put away in kitchen

But that’s a long time for Amy Manheim, who is adjusting to having her son, Josh, back in the house.

"It’s scary. I don’t really have the resources to support him indefinitely."

Economist Levert says students should remember to think long-term.

But of course, that’s easy for him to say. He has a job.

For NHPR News, I’m Sheryl Rich-Kern