Study: Many College Grads Leave First Job Before One Year

Recent college graduates apparently aren't so enthralled with their first experience in the workforce.

A total of 77 percent of employers surveyed by staffing firm Express Employment Professionals say they expect these newbies to stay a year or less in their first jobs.

So why are the rookies so eager to fly the coop?

"First, many in the millennial generation are taking jobs that they are over-qualified for and thus are eager to move on when something better appears," Bob Funk, CEO of Express, says in a statement.

"Second, we’ve seen a decrease in employees’ commitment to employers as a higher value is placed on personal advancement."

So what can employers do to maintain their new workers?

"They’re going to have to find ways to make their companies more attractive," Funk said. "It's true that the ’grass isn't always greener,’ but this generation seems plenty willing to go check out the grass on the other side. Employers, take note."

Meanwhile, a USA Today analysis of research by CareerBuilder shows that computer engineers, data analysts, physician assistants, software developers and petroleum engineers will be among the professionals paid the most and in the highest demand over the next three years.

Job growth for high-skill professions is expected to be particularly strong in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.

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