With the state of the economy as it is, many students might be worrying about getting a job after graduation.

According to an economic news release issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this year’s job loss total is up to 1.2 million as of October. The unemployment rate has climbed to 6.5 percent.

Economics professor Khan Mohabbat said the job market is in sad shape and every sector of the economy is hurting.

“The only sector left somewhat untouched is the agricultural sector which employs less than 2 percent of the labor force,” Mohabbat said. “For students who are graduating in June, [the] job hunt will be somewhat difficult in the light of the economic conditions.”

Meagan Hickok, organizational management alumna who graduated in May 2007, is currently employed at Walgreens in Park Ridge as an assistant manager. She said she is worried future graduates will have a difficult time finding employment.

“I began job searching in March before I graduated to ensure I would have a job when I left school,” Hickok said. “I didn’t have trouble then, but now is a different story. My brother graduated in June of this year and still hasn’t found job. I would advise students to begin searching early because more than likely they are going to have to work tenfold compared to the efforts I made.”

Andrea Lee, senior elementary education major who is graduating next spring, has maintained a stride of confidence with the results of the recent presidential election.

“I am worried about finding a job after I graduate because so many people want to be teachers; it’s very competitive,” Lee said. “But [President-elect Barack] Obama has a great plan for helping educators with their income and creating more jobs for people, which will eventually help me in the long run.”

Ferris Heyward, senior speech pathology major, plans to graduate this semester. Heyward said she is worried for her fellow students who will soon be entering competitive fields such as business and health-oriented professions.

“I think it will be difficult for people to find jobs at first because it is going to take a while to turn the economy around,” Heyward said. “Thankfully, there is a very high demand for my major, especially in the medical and educational settings.”