Unemployment affects some college grads in long term, study says

College graduates may be as susceptible to long-term unemployment as high school dropouts are, according to a study published Wednesday.

A Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative study suggested 35 percent of unemployed college graduates and those with advanced degrees have been jobless for more than a year. Unemployed graduates within that demographic have the same percentage as high school dropouts who have been unemployed for that long.

Regardless, Boston University career advisors said graduates should not feel concerned about their market value.

Jim O’Neill, assistant dean at the Feld Career Center, said 90 percent of School of Management undergraduate students secured jobs within six months after graduation. Eighty-seven percent of SMG students who earned masters in business administration were employed three months after they graduated.

The Boston marketplace has been “somewhat insulated” from high unemployment rates because of the diversity of industries it offers, O’Neill said in an email interview.

“Market data is showing that unemployment is at the lowest figure in years not only in Boston but the rest of the country [as well],” he said.

Joyce Rogers, director of College of Communication Career Services, thought the report was misleading because it did not consider different types of degrees, rigor of schools or length of programs.

“I just found it very vague they way they put the statistics together,” Rogers said. “I think somebody just had a really fun time saying that people that drop out of high school will have the same percentage of unemployment.”

Rogers said the statistics might not carry over to all fields, especially communication.

“We’re finding that right now the job market is increasing for our students,” she said. “Our students are positioning themselves well in the communication industry.”

It is also important to take the circumstances of the unemployed into account, Rogers said.

“There’s the unfortunate few that are great at what they do and some bad circumstance has them unemployed right now,” she said, “but . . . there’s usually some reason that’s holding the unemployed person back.”

BU spokesman Colin Riley said students need to apply for jobs persistently, considering the state of the market.

“The economy is in a bad place, but it is important for young people and graduates carrying degrees to know that there are jobs,” Riley said in a phone interview. “Through a college degree, you have invested in yourself with a mastery of subject matter of discourse you’re interested in.”

Riley also said students should network to find available jobs after college.

“Take advantage of opportunities on campus and in the Boston area,” he said. “Talk to people and family or their friends specializing in an area you want to focus on.”

John Burke, a recent graduate from the College of Engineering, said students should prepare themselves for “a bit of a tough time” after graduation.

“I do consider myself on the blessed end of the spectrum having been offered interviews about a month after graduating and being employed since November,” Burke said via Facebook message, “but I had to be willing to step out of my comfort zone a little.”

Leslie Mullings, a senior in SMG, said the statistics were interesting, but not surprising, especially since such a large percentage of the unemployed are college students.

“Employment out of college depends in large part on many factors like college institution, academic record and . . . the internship search, networking and career planning,” Mullings said via Facebook message.

Meredith Medlin, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the lack of available jobs is scary.

“I’ve heard that you definitely have to go to grad school now to get any kind of job and I guess that’s really scary because [of] how much money we are spending to be here,” Medlin said. “I wish it wasn’t that way.”

Mulling said the search can be tedious, but it should not stop students from seeking job opportunities in the first place.

“The employment search can be a long, draining process and it may seem like one is not making any progress for all the work one puts into it,” he said, “but one must not stop.”