Life isn't fair...

[ken285]

<p>

Of course. But who’s likely to be better off, a lazy civil engineering grad from 2006 who at least got money and work experience before being laid off, or a hardworking civil engineering grad from 2009 who probably still can’t find any work related to his major?

I don’t see a point in trying to make such a comparison. </p>

<p>

The construction industry will get back to normal one day. But even if the industry starts booming tomorrow, companies would rather hire a 2011 grad than a 2009 grad.

I agree, assuming you meant neither person has had relevant experience. At some point, the 2009 grad will have to give up and go into another field. Right after the dot com bubble, I met a few CS graduates who ended up working in the construction sector because they couldn’t find any relevant jobs at the time.</p>

<p>

Here’s the most recent data:
Gain In Manufacturing; Drop In Construction : The Two-Way : NPR</p>

<p>“The Census Bureau says construction spending fell 2.5 percent in December from November and was down 6.4 percent from December 2009.”

The Architecture Billings Index is at it’s highest point since 2007. </p>

<p>[Architecture</a> Billings Index News and Historical Graphs - Business, Architects, Architecture, Projects - Architect Magazine](<a href=“http://www.architectmagazine.com/economic-conditions/abi-report.aspx]Architecture”>http://www.architectmagazine.com/economic-conditions/abi-report.aspx)</p>

<p>This is more representative of the future.</p>