JMU grads strengthen Virginia’s workforce
JMU News
Nearly 66% of James Madison University graduates from the class of 2024 are working and filling critical positions in Virginia, according to the university’s annual career outcomes report.
Overall, 95.2% of 2024 JMU graduates found work, were serving in the military, were completing fellowships, or were continuing their education within six months after graduating, the report states.
A total of 310 bachelor’s degree recipients from the class of 2024 are employed in Virginia’s teaching and nursing fields, two industries where the state continues to face significant shortages.
“We’re proud to see so many of our graduates stepping into critical roles across Virginia, especially in teaching and nursing, where their impact is immediate and deeply needed,” said Libby Westley, director of the University Career Center. “These outcomes reflect the strength of JMU’s academic programs and the dedication of our students to serve their communities.”
The College of Business had the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree recipients entering the workforce at 84%, followed by the College of Integrated Science and Engineering at 79%. More than 10% of graduates from those colleges said they were continuing their education.
The most common employment locations for graduates included Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Within Virginia, 46% of respondents found work in Northern Virginia, 25% in Central Virginia and 16% in the Shenandoah Valley.
More than 92% of graduates who earned advanced degrees reported being employed within six months. Among them, 33.5% found work in the Shenandoah Valley, 32.6% in Northern Virginia and 23% in Central Virginia.
The report is largely based on surveys completed by 3,482 of the university’s 4,657 undergraduate degree recipients and 422 of 640 graduates who earned advanced degrees. Some of the data were obtained from JMU faculty and graduate program representatives, employers, the National Clearinghouse dataset of continuing education, and other sources.
