[STUDY] 2015 College Graduates More Confident About their Working Future

A new survey released by Accenture shows that eight in 10 2015 U.S. college graduates are confident their education has prepared them to succeed in today’s workforce. This optimism shows signs of improvement from that of 2013 and 2014 graduates, where 49 percent of them considered themselves underemployed or working in a job that does not require a college degree.

Accenture polled 1,002 2015 college graduates, and 1,002 2013 and 2014 graduates to compare student responses about their preparation for the workforce. For the class of 2015, 82 percent of them said they considered the availability of jobs before selecting a major, which is up from 75 percent of 2014 college graduates. When looking at the amount of job preparation that each class says they received, it’s clear that the 2015 graduating students are ahead of the game. Seven in 10 of them said they participated in an internship, apprenticeship or co-op during college, which is up from 65 percent of prior year graduates.

“The latest crop of college graduates are highly resourceful and pragmatic —a positive sign for both students and employers,â€ said David Smith who serves as senior managing director of Accenture Strategy. “Unfortunately, while many organizations are focusing on attracting top young talent, they’re struggling to provide learning and development opportunities for them once they join. Companies need to develop a talent supply chain that addresses continued development and retention with the same rigor it does recruiting.â€

With millennials now accounting for the largest share of U.S. workers, it’s imperative for companies to develop strategies that suit the needs of their organization as well as the incoming pool of young talent.