POLL: Considering Unemployment Issues, is College Worth it?

The difficulty that college graduates are having finding jobs has been a trend for some time now, but according to a Rutgers University study released Thursday, more recent grads are worse off.

According to the study, 51 percent of students who have graduated college since 2006 have a full-time job, an article on HuffingtonPost.com said.

"The situation is even more dire for those who have graduated since 2009," the article said. "Fewer than half of college graduates from those years found their first job within 12 months of graduating, much less than the 73 percent of those who graduated from 2006 to 2008. Those who graduated since 2009 are three times more likely to not have found a full-time job than those from the classes of 2006 through 2008."

But it seems degrees from technical colleges are offering a different story.

"A survey of 2011 technical college graduates revealed 88 percent of graduates were employed within six months of graduation," according to an article on the Business Journal. "The majority of respondents to the survey, 86 percent, also said they are working in Wisconsin, and 71 percent are employed directly in their field of study."

More, according to a story from Time magazine, Arizona students who started learning the technical trades in high school and got certificates in their field were more likely to find and keep a job. They were also more successful in highed education no matter if they chose to attend a two- or four-year college.

Wisconsin school districts can now offer a technical education diploma as well. Authored by state Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Rep. Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls) authored the bill and .

“All across the state, we hear from employers that they can’t find enough skilled workers,” said Wanggaard when the bill was signed. “This bill helps fill these positions and keep our economy growing. By creating an avenue for young adults to get valuable training in the skilled trades, we can open the door to family-supporting jobs for these students.”

In the story from Time, the author listed some jobs that do not require a bachelor's degree with positions that are considered "fast growing" between 2012 and 2020:

• Vet techs - $29,700 (likely growth: 52 percent)
• Iron/rebar workers - $38,400 (likely growth: 49 percent)
• Physical therapy assistants - $49,700 (likely growth: 46 percent)
• Medical sonographers - $64,400 (likely growth: 44 percent)
• Dental hygienists - $68,300 (likely growth: 38 percent)
• Registered nurses - $64,700 (likely growth: 26 percent)