There has been tremendous uncertainty in the economy in recent years, and many people would love to know what's coming next. On Nov. 21, a national hiring forecast for 2004 graduates will be unveiled during a conference at DePaul University's Lincoln Park Campus.

Philip D. Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, will reveal his annual recruiting trends survey report during a 9:30 a.m. speech at the 10th annual Fall "Trends in Recruiting" Conference, sponsored by the Midwest Association of Colleges & Employers and held at the DePaul University Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.

Gardner, one of the nation's foremost experts on hiring trends, will discuss the projected employment landscape for spring of 2004. Every year, Gardner surveys thousands of employers to assess their hiring projections for the upcoming year and releases his results at this conference. His findings on industries, geographic areas and employers by size -- who are likely and unlikely to hire this year -- are regarded as an influential indicator for the industry.

Following Gardner's 90-minute presentation, a panel of area executives from a variety of small businesses and large corporations will react to the forecast and answer questions. The afternoon sessions at the event are broken out into workshops focusing on trends in on-campus recruitment, legal liability in recruiting, first-year student career needs, reaching the "Y" generation of students and qualifying for government employment. An hour-long assembly meeting will wrap up the day’s agenda.

The event is open to registered participants in the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers conference, as well as the general public. Cost for the one-day session is $105 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and all survey reports and conference materials. Registration will be available at the door beginning at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 21. For more information, call the Career Center at DePaul at the Lincoln Park Campus, at 773/325-7431.

DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the nation and one of the ten largest private universities in the United States. A richly diverse population of 23,610 students attends classes on two city and five suburban campuses.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media interested in covering the event should call Shawn Malayter at 312/362-6978.