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Grads stay less than year in first jobs

October 17, 2013

New college graduates can be expected to stay in their first job for a year or less, according to a survey of 264 Express Employment Professionals franchises. Only 26 percent of new grads are expected to stay more than a year.

“There was a time when a graduate would take a job out of college and stay there for years building a career,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Mo. “Today’s graduates are much more transient, eager to move on to the next great opportunity.”

However, Funk added the finding may also have something to say about what jobs the grads are taking.

“In a difficult economy, many graduates don’t get to take their ‘dream jobs’ right out of college,” he said. “That may explain why they don’t stay put and choose to move on after just a few months."

For the survey, Express franchisees were asked, “In your opinion, how long does the average recent college graduate (graduating within the last 18 months) stay in their first career job following graduation?” Here are their responses:

  • Three to six months: 16 percent
  • Seven months to one year: 58 percent
  • More than one year: 26 percent