Sci/Tech Stays Strong Despite Job Woes

Channel 22NEWS, WWLP Springfield, MA.
Published : Friday, 24 Jul 2009, 4:50 PM (EDT)
Reporters Jackie Bruno and Matt Caron

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Unemployment numbers are on the rise and college students near graduation are feeling the stress of a dismal job market.

But a couple career fields are looking brighter than ever. Science and engineering.

UMass Amherst's Science and Engineering Graduate school held a fair today to attract students from across the country who are studying at UMass for the summer.

They are hoping to persuade these bright young minds to come back to UMass after they graduate.

And since the economy is so tough right now, graduate school may seem like the perfect opportunity to further their career until the job market bounces back.

"Despite the economy doing whatever. I think there's got to be a demand for people who are technically knowledgeable. There will always be a demand for people who know how to use tools," said Kirby Seitz, a junior at UMass Amherst.

"Our nation is in desperate need of engineers and scientists, particularly in some of the new growing fields. We're standing in front on the nanotechnology exhibit, this is cutting edge technology," said Susan Bronstein, the Director of the Learning Resource Center at UMass.

And according to U.S. News and World Report, they listed an engineer as one of the best jobs for 2009, saying it pays big bucks and has good job security.