As high school graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, celebrations might be short-lived.
By most measures, the Class of 2009 is stepping into the future with an economy in recession.
Graduates must now decide where to go, whether to pursue a place in the work force, life in the military or a higher education.
To get a better view of the future, some suggest a look into the past.
"In general, I think the 1980s were worse than our current situation," Augusta State University economics professor Mark Thompson wrote in an e-mail.
Dr. Thompson illustrated the severity of the "twin recessions" of 1980 and 1982 by citing key economic data. For instance, the prime lending rate back then was 20.5 percent versus 3.25 percent today, inflation in the 1980s was 15 percent against today's zero percent, and a gallon of gas in 2008 dollars was $3.50 then, while today it is about $2 .
Yet jobs could be found.
Danny Coleman of the Westside High School Class of 1982 doesn't remember times being that tough. He knew he wanted a career in fire services, volunteered with the fire department and climbed the ranks. He now serves as the training chief of the Martinez Fire Department.
His former classmate Donnie Porter, a Richmond County school guidance and testing coordinator, recalls finding jobs with relative ease. The jobs weren't high-paying, he said, but they were plentiful.
Those jobs, however, might not be available for the Class of 2009.
Today's work force is much different than that of 30 years ago, Dr. Thompson said. Now there are fewer low-skill jobs and more requiring higher education relative to the size of the work force.
"Personally, I think there is more pressure (or incentive) for high school graduates to go to college today than before," he said.
But for a graduate with the right skill set, looking for a job today should be much easier because of technology, job search engines and other services, Dr. Thompson said.
"My forecast is for the local economy to continue to contract through 2009 before the economy starts to recover in 2010," Dr. Thompson said. "The labor market will take some time to recover."
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Best and Brightest
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