Merced County still has the highest jobless rate in the Valley at nearly 20%. But it also dropped significantly from more than 22% in March.
Thousands of graduates are flooding the Central Valley right now looking for their first real job. But the harsh reality is they're competing against thousands of unemployed people looking for work too.
"Congratulations! You may now turn your tassels," cheered on Fresno State President John Welty.
After this graduation ceremony at Fresno State is over the sobering reality of life and work away from school begins. But as they reach for the sky many are also asking for a helping and…one that will land them a job that compliments their degree.
"But they're willing to accept employment that will get them experience," said Rita Bocchinfuso-Cohen who helps students get on their career paths.
Bocchinfuso-Cohen warns that budget shortfalls with the state have reduced the availability of many popular careers in the Central Valley like nursing, construction and teaching. "There have been a lot of cutbacks in education and a lot of layoffs," she said.
When it comes to looking for work national statistics show that only one in four graduates has secured a job. That's only slightly up from last year according to National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Welty reminded everyone that "As Fresno State graduates you have an incredible opportunity."
In order to find that opportunity Jessica Sweeten decided to move to Raleigh, North Carolina to pursue a career in agriculture. "I've applied probably to 30 different jobs and had call backs but it's a grim economy for sure," she said.
Sweeten's roommate Amanda Fine was not so lucky. She's looking for work in public relations. "In my field particularly we're having people that are getting laid off and then coming back down and applying for jobs they wouldn't normally apply for like entry level," she said.
For students not ready for the stiff competition many are headed back for their graduate degree like political science and chicano studies major Diana Diaz.
"The job market didn't look too promising for me. I wanted to do something in education and policy work regarding that," Diaz said.
The director of career services warned her students that coming back for a graduate degree does not mean you'll get a bigger paycheck later.
She advised graduate students to build work experience while working towards their degree.
