The document summarizes findings from a SHRM poll about organizations' hiring of 2011 graduates. It finds that while 84% of organizations hired employees in early 2011, down slightly from 2010, hiring of undergraduates and postgraduates increased compared to 2010. Over three-quarters of positions filled by 2011 graduates were full-time. However, most HR professionals believe 2011 graduates will have difficulty finding employment due to economic conditions.

1. July 11, 2011 SHRM Poll: The Hiring of 2011 Graduates

3. Has the hiring of undergraduates and postgraduates changed in 2011 compared with 2010? The hiring of undergraduates has increased since 2010, rising from 30% to 41% in 2011. Postgraduate hiring also experienced an increase, with more than a quarter (26%) of organizations hiring postgraduates in 2011 compared with 20% in 2010. Larger organizations (500 to 24,999 employees) were more likely than smaller organizations (1 to 499 employees) to hire undergraduates and postgraduates in 2011.

4. What types of positions were 2011 undergraduates and graduates hired to fill? More than three quarters (76%) of the positions filled by 2011 undergraduates and graduates were primarily full-time positions in 2011 (compared with 74% in 2010). Six percent of HR professionals indicated that 2011 graduates were hired mostly for part-time or another 6% reported hiring them for contract/temporary positions. 2

7. Has your organization hired full-time, part-time and/or temporary/contract staff in the last three months? 5 Comparisons by organization staff size: Larger organizations (100-24,999 employees) were more likely to have hired staff in the last three months compared with small organizations (1-99 employees).

8. 6 In the last three months, has your organization hired one or more 2011 university/college undergraduate(s) to start working before or after graduation? 2010 (n = 250) (n = 359) Note: The “Yes” option was spit into “Yes, hired to start work before graduation,” and “Yes, hired to start work after graduation.” This analysis is a combination of the “Yes” responses. The analysis excludes respondents who answered, “Will hire in the next three months.” Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between February 2010/2011 and April 2010/2011 .

9. Organizations that hired or will hire 2011 university/college undergraduates 7 Comparisons by organization staff size: Larger organizations (500-24,999 employees) were more likely to have hired 2011 undergraduates within the last three months than were smaller organizations (1-499 employees). Larger organizations (500-24,999 employees) were more likely to hire 2011 undergraduates within the next three months than were smaller organizations (1-499 employees). Comparisons by organization sector: Publicly owned for-profit organizations were more likely to hire 2011 undergraduates within the next 3 months than were privately owned for-profit organizations.

10. 8 In the last three months, has your organization hired one or more 2011 university/college postgraduate(s) to start working before or after graduation? 2010 (n = 219) (n = 335 ) Note: The “Yes” option was spit into “Yes, hired to start work before graduation,” and “Yes, hired to start work after graduation.” This analysis is a combination of the “yes” responses. The analysis excludes respondents who said that they will hire in the next three months. Respondents answered this question based on the “last three months,” which refers to the time period between February 2010/2011 and April 2010/2011.

11. Organizations that hired or will hire 2011 university/college postgraduates 9 Comparisons by organization staff size: Larger organizations (500-24,999 employees) were more likely to hire 2011 postgraduates to start working before graduation compared with smaller organizations (1-499 employees). Comparisons by organization sector: Government agencies were more likely to hire 2011 postgraduates within the next 3 months than were privately owned for-profit organizations.

12. Are positions that 2011 university/college undergraduates and postgraduates were hired for mostly full-time, part-time or temporary positions? 10 n = 95 Note: “Mostly” in this question referred to 75% or more. Only respondents that have hired one or more university/college graduates within the past three months were included in this analysis.

13. 11 Compared with university/college graduates from previous years, are the 2011 undergraduates and graduates that your organization has hired (or made offers to) satisfied with their salary offers? n = 91 Note: Only respondents that have hired one or more university/college graduates within the past three months were included in this analysis. 2011 data do not equal 100% due to rounding.

14. 12 To what extent will your company target new 2011 university/college graduates as the economy turns around and hiring resumes? Large extent Some extent Small extent Will not hire n = 22 n = 32 Note: Only respondents that have not hired one or more university/college graduates within the past three months were included in this analysis. 2011 data do not equal 100% due to rounding.

15. Given the current economic climate, are 2011 university/college graduates in a more or less advantageous position compared with other types of job seekers? 13

16. Why are 2011 graduates at an advantage compared with other job seekers? 14 Note: Totals do not equal 100% due to multiple response options. Analysis only includes respondents who indicated that university/college job seekers are at an advantage.

17. Why are 2011 graduates at a disadvantage compared with other job seekers? 15 Note: Totals do not equal 100% due to multiple responses. Analysis only includes respondents who indicated that university/college job seekers are at a disadvantage.

18. Demographics: Organization Industry 16 n = 308

19. Demographics: Organization Sector 17 n = 305

20. Demographics: Organization Staff Size 18 n = 312

21. Demographics: Other 19 Is your organization a single-unit company or a multi-unit company? Does your organization have U.S.-based operations (business units) only or does it operate multinationally? n = 315 n = 315 Are HR policies and practices determined by the multi-unit corporate headquarters, by each work location or both? HR department/function for which you responded throughout this survey n = 190 n = 191

23. Sample composed of 348 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership

24. Margin of error +/- 5%

25. Survey fielded April 28-May 16, 201120 Methodology For more poll findings, visit www.shrm.org/surveys Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SHRM_Research