By LORI PENCE BARBER
Career Services Coordinator
Purdue University College of Agriculture

Purdue Agriculture’s 2010 May graduates had another reputable year in a highly competitive job market. Ninety-one percent of the graduates were employed or continuing their education as of April 1, 2011. Positions were being sought by 8 percent of the graduates.

There are only a few majors within the college that are experiencing challenges in job placement due to economic conditions. Another restraint for our graduates is geographic location; many of our graduates do not want to leave the state of Indiana or home county of residence. This can reduce their opportunities for employment. However, 74 percent of May graduates are employed in Indiana. Twenty-two percent of the 2010 May graduates continued in graduate or professional programs.

Purdue College of Agriculture will release its 2011 May Graduate Placement Report during the fall semester, and we anticipate similar placement statistics to the fall 2010 May Report. This past fall recruitment season we had several students fielding multiple offers.

Unemployment rates across the United States remained high in 2010. However, agriculture careers continue to have many available positions. Several agriculture companies are heard to say there is a “war on talent” within the agriculture sector when it comes to recruiting new talent into their organizations.

The four major factors contributing to the war on talent are: macroeconomic conditions and retirements, global market shifts in populations, income, food and energy, consumer preferences for nutritious and safe foods, food energy, and environment public policy choices.

According to the 2010-2015 USDA Employment Report- Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Renewable Energy, and the Environment, the U.S. economy will generate an estimated 54,000 annual openings for individuals with baccalaureate or higher degrees in food, renewable energy, and environmental specialties between 2010 and 2015. This is positive news for our students and graduates.

Classes start next week at Purdue in West Lafayette. We are already gearing up for the fall recruitment season for internships and permanent employment positions for our graduating seniors. Our Fall Career Fair will be on Oct. 4 in the Purdue Memorial Union and several companies have already stated that they will be recruiting this year for more positions than last year. This is exciting news for our talented College of Agriculture students.