The college grad unemployment rate has hit pre-recession levels - what it means to this year's graduating classes:
Bottom Line: At the peak of the Great Recession fallout the underemployment rate of recent college grads (withing 1 year of graduation) was 49% and the unemployment rate was about 16%. Fast forward to today. The recent unemployment rate for recent college grads is down to 3.9% - the lowest level since mid-2007. So this year's class of grads should encounter the most favorable job prospects in a decade upon graduation. As a result it's instructive for the class of 2017 to actively explore the labor market now. Many will actually be in a position of competition for their services as compared to grads simply hoping to be able to find work.