Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — College enrollment may be down across the nation, but the job market for college graduates is robust, according to an employment expert at Kansas State University.

College enrollment declined by almost half a million students in 2012-2013, marking the second year in a row enrollment has declined, according to the U.S Census Bureau. But Kerri Day Keller, director of the university’s career and employment services, says graduates with a four-year degree are in demand.

"I think it's enhanced by the fact that there are finally some folks in the workforce who are retiring, so many employers are filling these openings," Keller said. "Employers are promoting employees into those leadership roles and then filling those entry level positions with recent graduates."

The college labor market is up 3 percent from 2012 for all degrees, according to a recruiting report from Michigan State University. At Kansas State University, students are increasingly graduating with jobs or pursuing advanced degrees. For the 2012-2013 academic year, the university had a 93 percent placement rate. Career and employment services also hosted its largest single day of interviews, with one company interviewing 230 students for a variety of open positions.

Keller says the key to landing a job is getting work experience while in school and internships in your desired field.

"We know there's a lot of value in internships to the education experience and we also know that many employers use internships as one of their most important recruiting tactics," Keller said.

Even better news: The national starting salary for college graduates is nearly 3 percent higher.