Grand Junction, CO (KKCO) Colorado Mesa University has had success recruiting students nationwide, but they might have to take their talent elsewhere. Experts tell us job seekers will be more successful if they launch a nationwide job hunt. The unemployment rate in Mesa County as of March is 9.5%. That's higher than both the state and national average. Although students tell us they've enjoyed their time here, they might not stick around for long.

"I have an internship with a Boston public relations advertising agency," says Katie Schultz, a senior mass communications major at Colorado Mesa University. "I'm also talking to another publishing company in Boston as well, so those are my prospects," says Schultz. Except if Katie stays in Boston, Grand Junction loses her talent because she's from here.

"I've applied for jobs in New York, California, Florida, here," explains
Kyle Cooper, a senior mass communication major from Las Vegas. Cooper is hoping something will come through. "I had an interview the other week, which was my first real interview. I flew 1,200 miles to go to Syracuse," says Cooper.

"I think it's (the job market) a lot better than it was maybe four years ago," says Patience Kanda, a senior mass communication major from Hawaii. "I'm going to do an internship over the summer and then I'm working here for a little bit, and then we'll see where life takes me," says Kanda.

"I got an internship with Riverbend machinery; they're a heavy equipment company that runs and sells heavy equipment," says Randy Fred, a business management and marketing major from Colorado Springs. Fred is working for a company based in Grand Junction, but he's not staying either. The company is sending him to another office. "I'm shipping off to North Dakota in a couple weeks," says Fred.

The Mesa County Workforce Center says they've had over 14,000 job seekers the last year. Out of those, 1,000 were ages 19-21, and over 2,000 had bachelor's degrees.

The center listed over 240 job orders in April, and expects 2-3 openings through each job order. That means every job that opens up is closing quickly; as the job market remains cut-throat for everyone.

We're told recent grads are also competing with older workers who have been out of work for awhile. They may not have a degree, but have more experience.