Some graduating students are choosing to apply for graduate school rather than enter the job market, two University administrators said.

With 7.2 percent of U.S. citizens considered “unemployed” by the U.S. Department of Labor, many University students are exploring their post-graduate options earlier in the semester.

“There is a general anxiety and concern among students about the current job market conditions,” Scott Williams, executive director of the University Career Center, said in a telephone interview Thursday.

He said such concerns were highlighted at the spring Career Fair last Wednesday, as a record number of students participated compared to recent years.

Though more than 2,000 students attended the fair, he said employer participation decreased from roughly 200 to 145 – a 27 percent decrease – from last spring’s event to this year.

The Center will see more students, recent graduates and alumni utilizing career services to earn the upper hand in a very competitive job market, Williams said.

Some students may choose to put the job search on hold and enroll in graduate or professional programs.

Administrative members of the University’s Graduate School said they have seen an increase in applicants from January 2008 to today – overall, an 8 percent increase from last year and a 22 percent growth from January 2007.

Michael Johnson, assistant dean of the Graduate School, said he attributes the influx of applicants both to the strained job market and to the School’s plan to increase enrollment 25 percent by 2010.

Regardless of the growth initiatives and the struggling economy, he said the Graduate School is not only proactive in its own admissions, but also provides students resources and advice for applying to other graduate level programs.

“We help students find good graduate school matches even if they are not interested in attending UGA,” Johnson said. “We’ve also developed unique approaches to answer prospective students’ questions through Facebook.”

Graduate assistant Will Powell said the job market played a role in his decision to attend graduate school for sports management and kinesiology. He advised upcoming graduates to weigh their options and assess the unique needs that play into their post-graduate decision.

“I always tell students that their major is simply a springboard for jobs, not a restriction,” said Cecil Bentley, director of career services of Grady College. In any field of study, Bentley said students should be versatile and proactive in their job search.

“One of the top qualities employers said they look for is good communication skills,” he said. “Take the time to follow up on an application with an e-mail or phone call – it shows the employer how focused you are and will pay off in the long run.”

There are multiple resources on campus to guide students before and after graduation. Events include “Preparing for Graduate School Workshop” on Feb. 25. The Journalism and Mass Communication Career Day – which is open to students of all majors – will be held on Feb. 11 at Grady College and the Classic Center from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.