Business & Economy
Local government jobs still lure new college graduates
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By SILU GUO
Capital News Service
LANSING – For recent college grads wanting government jobs, the overall number of opportunities continues to shrink. But there is still hope — local governments in some areas are hiring more staff, according to Phil Gardner, director of research for the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. “Right now, public sector jobs really depend on retirements,” Gardner said. “Government is one sector where retirements have been and are expected to provide opportunities for new graduates.”
Gardner added, “But retirements have not started in big numbers yet — unless forced.”
According to Michigan Labor Market Information, local governments in Wayne County hired 386 employees in the first quarter of 2012, ranking first among all counties, followed by Macomb and Ingham. But the total number of local government employees decreased slightly, according to Michigan Labor Market Information, compiled by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget.