WASHINGTON — Over the next several months thousands of new college graduates will be flooding into one of the worst job markets in decades. And as the unemployment remains at 9.7 percent nationwide, Washington is becoming a popular destination for young graduates motivated by the energy of the 2008 election.
Many new graduates are finding a city full of tough competition for a limited number of jobs, despite the fact that the area has the third lowest unemployment rate in the country, Their skills and enthusiasm for politics may not be enough to find a career.
“I’m from Oregon whose economy is very hard hit now,” said Peter Henne, 27. “We’re right above Michigan at the bottom of the list. I came to D.C. because it had the best potential for jobs in energy and sustainability and policy.”
Like many other young people, Henne became politically motivated during the 2008 presidential campaign. The combination of a poor job market in his home state and the desire to become active with an administration that touched him directly inspired Henne to try to take advantage of the job market in Washington.
“It was a wave of idealism and wanting to be in on the front lines of the new initiatives of the administration for me,” he said.
It has been one year since Henne originally came to Washington and he’s still unemployed. Despite sending out what he estimates to be more than 100 resumes he has had little luck. Aside from a few unpaid internships the market has had little to offer him.
Henne is not alone. Washington’s population grew about three percent in the past two years, according to the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University. Much of this growth is attributed to rising unemployment in the private sector nationwide.
“Generally this region does get stronger in times of down business cycles,” said John McClain of the Center for Regional Analysis. “The federal government is a large presence. Not just the government itself but all of the associated groups like embassies and law firms, lobbyists and regulatory agencies. There is a lot of economic activity and jobs that are connected to that.”
The flooding of new residents to the area often stabilizes as business recovers, he said.
With this growth the process of breaking into politics often becomes more difficult. In 2008, the number of young people flooding the political job market led George Washington University’s graduate program in political management started sponsored the creation of politicsunder30.org. The Web site, created by Bryce Cullinane, a 24-year-old student in the program, hopes to help guide young people into a career in politics.
“We have about 2,000 people a week who view the articles,” he said. “D.C. is viewed as ‘there’s lots of jobs here’ and there are but there’s no one way to get to anywhere.”
However, persistence is beginning to pay off for some young people. Sara Haile-Mariam worked as a surrogate for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in New York state and pursued a political career after graduating from New York University last year. She now works at the Center for American Progress on the Campus Progress initiative. She came to Washington with a plan, connections and more importantly a job.
“I think for a lot of people who went into the Obama campaign it was more than a job,” she said. “I know friends of mine who had trouble finding a next job after the campaign but for them and for me the experience was bigger than that.”
The opportunity Halie-Mariam sees may be growing for others as well. Andrew Lentz graduated from Villanova University in 2008 with dreams of working on Capitol Hill. He had few connections and no job prospects when he came to Washington. He has spent nearly two years piecing together internships and temp work to make ends meet.
“I sent out several hundred resumes.” he said “I’d say I sent out 25-30 every week and I’ve had about 15 interviews during that time.”
Last week his luck finally turned around. After volunteering as a congressional staff assistant Lentz was offered a fundraising job at the Democratic National Committee. On Monday, after two years of relying on his parents for help, Lentz picked out his most professional suit and tie and headed to work.