Shared from the 1/21/2017 American Press eEdition

New grads welcome

Website lists LC among best cities for recent graduates

Lake Charles has been named among the “2017 Best Cities for New Grads” in a poll by careers and personal finance website Goodcall.com.

The city was ranked No. 25 in the country for its cost of living, salaries, amenities, and job market for recent graduates.

“This report helps substantiate the importance of the core mission of Sowela — the creation of a highly qualifi ed and skilled workforce that can help fill the vast number of jobs that are available in the Lake Charles area,” said Neil Aspinwall, chancellor of Sowela Technical Community College.

“Much of Sowela’s transformation in the last few years has been in direct response to the increased availability in the area of good jobs that pay high wages, which this report further validates.”

George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, said he wasn’t surprised by the results of the poll.

“Well, I think it’s indicative of the jobs we’ll have here in the next few years,” Swift said. “I think those jobs will help to keep more and more of our graduates here after they graduate from college or community college.”

Analysts from GoodCall looked at data from 589 cities nationwide and considered the median salary in each. They then compared that with the median salary for people who have a bachelor’s degree.

‘Students seeking a great job upon graduation from college will find a welcoming environment for their talents from employers right here in Southwest Louisiana.’
PHILIP WILLIAMS
McNeese president

“This new ranking confirms what we have been telling our entering freshmen at McNeese for the past five years,” said McNeese State University President Philip Williams.

“Students seeking a great job upon graduation from college will find a welcoming environment for their talents from employers right here in Southwest Louisiana.”

Megan Stevens, a recent graduate of McNeese State University, said the poll sounds right on target.

“I think those statistics are accurate because I have never had a problem finding a good job,” Stevens said. “And if a person has a degree, then the odds of you getting a job are even higher.”

Stevens resides with her husband, Cullen, in Lake Charles and said, “I also think the cost of living here is perfect. Especially when you compare it to other areas. If you think about it, we have it pretty good in lots of ways here in Lake Charles.”

The cities that the poll ranked among the top 10: Roanoke, Va.; Canton, Ohio; Fort Myers, Fla.; Irving, Texas; Gastonia, N.C.; Mountain View, Calif.; Lansing, Mich.; Beaverton, Ore.; Dallas; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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