Recent college grads watch starting salaries tumble

Given the hard time experienced workers are having finding jobs (much less securing raises), it comes as no surprise that recent college graduates are experiencing their own problems.

A new survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that those who graduated with bachelor's degrees in 2009 received an average starting salary of $48,633 -- down 1.2% from last year. Survey respondents also reported that the number of job offers fell by 20%.

According (subscription required) to The Wall Street Journal, "A preview of 2010 shows next year's graduates may face similar hardships. Employers expect to cut college-graduate hiring by 7%, a separate survey of 219 NACE employer members showed."