the labor department reported on thursday that the number of jobless grads rose to 12.4 per cent last year from 10.9 per cent in 2013 .
philip gardner , director of michigan state university 's collegiate employment research institute , says engineering and business majors have the most chance on landing a job in today 's competitive market .
despite the recent news , in a survey of employers last fall the employment center found that hiring of graduates will rise 16per cent this year .
indeed , the consulting and accounting firm ey plans to hire 9,000 graduates from u.s. universities this year , up from 7,500 in 2014 .