More than half, 54%, of companies still plan to hire 2009 college graduates, down from last year's 59% who planned to hire new college grads, according to MonsterTRAK, a division of Monster Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: MWW). However, the rate of decline between 2009 and 2008 is less steep than the decrease seen between 2008 and 2007. In 2007, 76% of employers planned to hire new college graduates

This year's survey included 210 employers.