Members of the Class of 2001, overloaded with job applications and nerve-wracking interviews, have at least one piece of good news awaiting them.

Survey results published last week in the Chronicle of Higher Education indicate that liberal arts graduates this year may experience the best job market in recent history.

According to an annual survey of 380 employers conducted by Michigan State University's Collegiate Employment Research Institute (CERI), employment prospects will increase by an average of 6 to 10 percent during the 2000-2001 academic year.

While retail sales, professional services and manufacturing industries expect the largest growth, a need for engineers and computer science majors persists. Employment of communications, telecommunications and business majors is also expected to increase.

The expanding job market can be attributed to several factors, including an increasing prevalence of retirements of older workers and departures of young staff members seeking other job opportunities, according to CERI Director Philip D. Gardner.

In searches for new employees, companies look for a prospective employee's community involvement, understanding of the relationship between business and technology and Internet experience, Gardner told the Chronicle.

Office of Career Services (OCS) Director Bill Wright-Swadel has observed similar market trends.

"The market has been good for five years, but we think this may be one of the better years," he said.