SHRM Poll: The Hiring of 2009 Graduates During the Economic Downturn

1. SHRM Poll: The Hiring of 2009 Graduates During the Economic Downturn June 15, 2009

2. In the last three months, did the number of employees at your organization increase, decrease or remain the same? N = 427 Differences by organization-staff-size: • Small-staff-sized (30%) organizations were more likely to report an increase in their staff size compared with large-staff-sized (15%) organizations. Differences by organization sector: • Publicly owned for-profit organizations (63%) were more likely to report staff reductions in the last three months compared with privately owned for-profit organizations (40%), nonprofit organizations (28%) or government agencies (33%). Differences by organization location: • Multinational organizations (54%) were more likely to report decreases in the number of employees compared with U.S.-based organizations (36%). Note: This analysis excludes respondents who answered “not sure”. Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between April 2009 and June 2009. Small-staff-sized organizations = 1-99 employees, medium-staff-sized = 100-499 employees, large-staff-sized = 500 or more employees.

3. Companies that increased staffing level between April and June 2009 N = 91 Note: This analysis includes only respondents whose companies increased their staffing level in the last three months. Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between April 2009 and June 2009. This analysis excludes respondents who answered that they will hire in the next three months.

4. In the last three months, has your organization hired one or more 2009 university/college graduates? 2009 Undergraduates (e.g., B.S., B.A. degrees) • Hiring of undergraduates has dipped slightly in 2009 compared with previous years. Note: In 2009 , an additional option “Will hire in next three months” was included. This analysis excludes respondents who answered that they will hire in the next three months. Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between April 2009 and June 2009.

5. In the last three months, has your organization hired one or more 2009 university/college graduates? 2009 Postgraduates (e.g., M.S., M.A., M.B.A., doctoral degrees) • Hiring of postgraduates has dipped slightly in 2009 compared with previous years. Note: In 2009 , an additional option “Will hire in next three months” was included. This analysis excludes respondents who answered that they will hire in the next three months. Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between April 2009 and June 2009. Page 3

6. Compared with graduates from previous years, are the 2009 university/college graduates that your organization has hired (or made offers to) satisfied with the salary offered? Note: Only respondents who se organizations have hired 2009 under graduates and/or postgraduates were included in this analysis.

7. If your organization has not hired 2009 university/college graduates, why not? • Most companies indicated that they have not hired 2009 graduates because they do not have current openings. This may mean that these companies are less likely have entry-level positions in general for recent graduates, which may or may not be due to the recession. Note: Multiple response options were allowed, therefore percentages do not total 100%.

8. To what extent will your company target new 2009 university/college graduates once the economy turns around and hiring resumes? n = 406 Differences by organization staff size: • Compared with large companies (16%), small (37%) and medium (29%) companies will be less likely to hire 2009 graduates once the economy turns around. Note: Small-staff-sized organizations = 1-99 employees, medium-staff-sized = 100-499 employees, large-staff-sized = 500 or more employees

9. Companies plan to hire graduates once the economy improves • Nearly three quarters of companies plan to target 2009 university/college graduates once the economy turns around and hiring resumes. Note: Excludes companies who do not plan to target 2009 college/university graduates.

10. Given the current economic climate, are 2009 university/college graduate job seekers in a more or less advantageous position compared with other types of job seekers? n = 373 • According to HR professionals, recent graduates are in a less advantageous position than other types of job seekers because they have less experience (see slide 9). The 7% of respondents who indicated recent graduates were more advantageous said that what makes them desirable is that recent graduates are willing to accept low pay and they have better networking opportunities than other types of job seekers.

11. Why are 2009 graduate job seekers in a disadvantageous position? n = 237 • 2009 university/college graduates are disadvantaged in the current job market because they have less experience and because companies have less resources to train them. Note: Multiple response options were allowed, therefore percentages do not total 100%. Analysis only includes respondents who indicated that 2009 university/college graduate job seekers are in a disadvantageous position.

12. Organization Staff Size n = 386

13. Organization Sector n = 399

14. U.S.-Based vs. Multinational Operations n = 397

15. SHRM Poll: The Hiring of 2009 Graduates During the Economic Downturn Methodology • Response rate = 16% • Sample comprised of 450 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership. • Margin of error = +/- 5%. • Survey fielded the week of June 15, 2009.