By Samantha D. Jackson

Students and recent graduates find that more education could be the answer to looming unemployment.

The unemployment rates for Florida, California, and Washington, D.C. were all above 10 percent in October 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS says many who once saw a bachelor's degree as the end of their higher education will find themselves in competition with too many people.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers states that because of the economic downturn, "college recruiting has been on a gradual decline. In fact, the outlook for the Class of 2009 has fallen to the lowest levels that graduates have seen in the past six years."

“I felt that with more education, I would be able to find a job easier. In this market who knows? I could have a job this week and not next.”

                                        - Stephanie Cartwright

Entering the job market seems like a waste of time to some young people. Many students in undergraduate programs think that it is highly unlikely they will successfully find any jobs, much less the job they desire.

“I felt that with more education, I would be able to find a job easier," said Stephanie Cartwright. "In this market who knows? I could have a job this week and not next.”                                    

Cartwright received a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Emory & Henry College in 2008. Knowing that with the degree she held it would be difficult to find work, Cartwright moved to Johnson City to attend ETSU.

“Hopefully with a master’s degree, my job will be a little more secure.” A graduate student at ETSU, Cartwright opted for continuing her education rather than diving in to the job market right away.

Although this may look grim, there are companies willing to give jobs to fresh college graduates. But, according to the BLS, the five fastest-growing occupations for 2006-2016 deal with computers and numbers.

Joshua Stickley is a 24-year-old accountant in Kingsport, Tenn. He has been working for the accounting firm Dent K. Burk and Associates since his graduation in 2007 and held an internship with them while in college.

“They helped solidify my decision to go into accounting and finance. Before my internship with them I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” said Stickley.

“I knew that numbers were what I wanted to do and I’m glad I made the decision I have,” said Stickley. “I feel like my job is very secure, even though I’m a newer employee, a younger employee.”

Stickley also said he feels like his company takes care of him and has an interest in the next generation of accountants and CPAs.

“We were on ETSU’s campus a few weeks ago in the financial building handing out information and getting to know kids. It was a good experience knowing that I could do for them what my company had done for me,” said Stickley.

Dent K. Burk and Associates has an extensive Web site with links to resources where students can go for information. They offer tutorials from how to apply for FAFSA to how to do your own taxes and an online application for internships and employment.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the best jobs of 2010 are in physical healthcare and computer science leaving little room for those like Cartwright entering into occupations like therapy, counseling, and even teaching.

With the economic status of the U.S. and the areas of job availability in the future not in her chosen field, Cartwright said her plan is just to stay positive.

 “There will always be jobs in technology for those smart enough to get them but people will always have personal problems,” she said. “That’s why I do what I do.”