Job market healthy for new chemistry graduates

This spring's class of chemistry graduates is, in fact, benefiting from the hiring wave predicted earlier this year (C&EN, Feb. 10, page 35). "The market for B.S. chemists is very good his year," says Vernicka K. Tyson, director of career services and placement at Michigan State University, East Lansing. "However, the market is good for college graduates across the board, regardless of discipline," she notes. "Some people say it's the best job market in 30 years," adds Jimmy D. Lawrence, assistant director of placement services at Auburn University, Auburn, Ala. "But I don't know if I would agree with that. Our last great recruiting cycle probably was in the late 1980s." Lawrence's view reflects the general consensus among placement offices and others contacted by C&EN that this year's job market is the brightest in 10 years. Nevertheless, placement officials are careful to issue some caveats: • The job market for chemists is not as good ...