Recent indicators suggesting a slow economic recovery have shown an uptick in unemployment claims and a stagnant unemployment rate, but that news might not be all gloom and doom for today’s college students.

“If you look at unemployment rates by education, you’re better off with a college degree,” according to Professor David Neumark, who is the director of the Center for Economics and Public Policy at the University of California Irvine.

Neumark said an uncertain economy makes college more worthwhile than ever and said although the speed of this economic recovery is slow, there’s no reason for students or anyone else to think it’s permanent.

“It’s a little tougher,” he said. “It’s a little tougher for everybody.”

For students, what they study does play into weathering the downturn, Neumark said. A field of study has always mattered, but a more competitive market only adds weight. He said students with degrees that have tangible skills are seeing a bigger return and students with the ability and interest should think about pursuing those practical career-oriented fields.

“College students are always trying to get a leg-up and that’s even stronger now,” Neumark said.

An uncertain economy is also a good time to stay in school. Neumark said labor economists analyze the value of spending time and they’ve found the value of staying in school is greater in times like these.

He said it’s best to leave school in good economic times, so if students do stay in school for a few extra years and graduate when the recovery is further along, those students will do better in the long run.

At the University of Pennsylvania, students have seen a couple of slow years but last year experienced the highest number of on-campus interviews in 10 years, according to Patricia Rose, the director of Career Services at U-Penn.

“There are opportunities for bright, motivated college graduates,” Rose said.

It’s key for students is to use the resources available to them, like campus career services, she said. Students should also be flexible and be ready when opportunity arises. Hands on internship experience has always been important in that preparation, and Rose said an uncertain economy means having multiple internships is beneficial.

At U-Penn, Rose said students are pretty upbeat about the economy. She said employers large and small have needs to fill and want to position themselves for better days. That doesn’t mean hiring thousands, but does mean hiring some recent college graduates.

Echoing that outlook, U-Penn sophomore economics major Andrew Brown said Penn students are among the top job applicants in their fields so student behavior on campus hasn’t changed much with the uncertain economy.

“Nervous about the economy and [being] directly affected are two different things,” Brown said.

He said working hard sets students apart in a good economy or a bad economy and that is something U-Penn students practice regardless of financial headlines.

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