News Summary: Survey optimistic on grads' jobs

The Associated Press

GRADS' JOB PROSPECTS: An annual survey predicts employers will increase hiring of new 4-year college graduates about 5 percent in the coming year. Demand for graduates with associate's degrees is expected to increase more sharply — by about 30 percent — while MBA hiring appears headed for an unexpected decline.

THE SURVEY FACTS: The Michigan State University's College Employment Research Institute collects responses on hiring plans from more than 2,000 U.S. employers.

MOST WANTED: For 4-year college graduates, employers are looking most actively for business-related majors. Demand for engineering, accounting and computer science majors appears somewhat softer than in previous years.