Chamber businesses strive to keep college graduates

Springfield is a gold mine of college graduates, and area businesses and organizations are striving to keep those new, young professionals in the area.

"Retaining talent has become a real important initiative of the chamber and of the community," said Greg Williams, vice president of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

The tight labor market in recent years has led area college and university graduates to seek jobs elsewhere, he said. Sometimes graduates will leave the area to gain experience in larger markets, then return to Springfield five or 10 years down the road to establish a long-term career and raise a family, he said.

Many graduates who choose to stay in Springfield do so because they are originally from the area, according to Jack Hunter, director of career placement services at Southwest Missouri State University. He said many local employers regularly seek out area graduates because of their loyalty, confidence and work ethic.

Gary Garwitz, partner with BKD LLP, said BKD actively recruits accounting graduates at colleges and universities in southwest Missouri.

"We need to hire in order to keep our firm growing," Garwitz said. "We are seeking quality graduates to work in audit, tax or management services."

Margie Wieland, coordinator of the SMSU College of Business Administration, works with employers for on-campus recruiting and career day activities. She said many recruiters from both local companies and those outside the area come to the campus seeking sales representatives and management trainees.

She said Wal-Mart recruiters often seek college graduates for a variety of positions ranging from computer information systems to management.

"They've hired a number of our students," Wieland said.

Said Hunter, "I think the area is probably good for our business majors in marketing, finance and general business who are interested in retail careers."

Other career fields with promise in the Springfield area include nursing, education, and human services, such as social work, psychology and criminal justice, Hunter said.

The average beginning salary for computer information system majors in the area is in the low to mid $30,000 range, which is slightly lower than the national average, Hunter said. Beginning salaries for accounting majors in the Springfield area are in the upper $30,000 range, he said. That figure is close to the starting salaries in larger markets, he said.

Garwitz said BKD pays the "market rate" when hiring accounting graduates.

"Usually the people we are hiring have a master's degree. The market this year seems to be about $35,000 to $40,000," Garwitz said.

The chamber's Web site, at www.business 4springfield.com, lists average hourly wages for a variety of positions in the Springfield area. Positions and wages listed include computer programmer, $18.39; mechanical engineer, $25.75; marketing director, $30.15; and human resources director, $25. These averages are slightly to moderately lower than national averages, according to the U.S. Bureaut of Labor Statistics' Web site.

Hunter said the career service's placement rates have remained fairly steady despite the down economy.

"We have found that generally we are right about at the national average. By the time they graduate, about 50 percent to 55 percent of our graduates have a position," he said.

However, Hunter said the economy has affected the number of offers, salaries and signing bonuses offered by companies.

"The economy has required our students to be a little more patient," Hunter said.

Williams said the chamber is working with area employers in an effort to enhance college and university curriculums.

"We have initiated a higher education and health care economic development task force at the chamber, and have a series of recommendations that we will begin to implement this year in regard to curriculum development," he said.

Williams said area hospital officials will recommend essential health care curriculum standards to the chamber and to area universities and colleges. The goal is to help students attain attractive full-time careers in the local health care industry immediately after graduation, Williams said.

After attending school in Springfield for a few years, many students grow to like the area and want to stay after they graduate, Williams said.

Williams said the chamber is also partnering with life sciences and plant sciences organizations statewide and regionally to identify business development opportunities. These efforts are being put forth to create desirable employment opportunities for qualified young people in the area, he said.

"We hear more and more often of kids that come to Springfield from larger cities and other areas. They enjoy the community and would like to find a way to stay here and make a career and raise a family," Williams said.