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Currently, the economy is less friendly toward new college students entering the workforce than in the past.

 

A study released earlier this week by the Economic Policy Institute found that entry-level wages for 2010 college graduates were about a dollar per hour lower than what their peers were earning a decade prior.

 

Between 2000 and 2010, gaps based on gender increased as well. In 2010, the report found that college-educated men made an average hourly wage of $21.77.

 

This is down 4.5 percent from the $22.75 they would have made in 2000.

 

However, college-educated women were expected to make only an average of $18.43 in 2010, down 5.2 percent from the $19.38 they were expected to make in the previous decade.

 

These findings may seem daunting to many young adults preparing to enter the workplace.

 

However, there are some things that can be done to ensure a good career within your area of study.

 

Ohio University College of Business Dean Hugh Sherman believes that a few simple steps can take a student a long way in finding a job after graduation.

 

“Students have to recognize that they have to network,” said Sherman.

 

According to Sherman, it is important for students to be out in the real world, meeting professionals in their area of study.

 

In addition to networking, students should be looking for internships in their major as well.

 

“For every student who’s in a college, four-year experience, they need to do internships,” said Sherman.

 

Large job recruiters such as national and global firms say that they will not look at an applicant if they do not have real world experience.

 

Some students remain optimistic about their job outlook.

 

“I feel like I’ll have a good chance at getting a job. I’m pretty flexible to moving around, too, so I’m not too worried about it,” said Ohio University senior Tim Forgach.

 

Despite the recent drop in wages for college graduates, more students are actually finding jobs after graduation.

 

Studies by Ohio University shows about 50 percent of college graduates were able to find a job after graduating college in 2008.

 

This year, the number increased to 64 percent of recent college grads being employed.