Almost 900 employers responded to this year's "Recruiting Trends" survey, the largest response in the history of this project. Hiring of college graduates is expected to increase by single digits minimally, or double digits if certain geographic sectors are excluded (between 6% and 14%). This growth follows a robust 20% increase in hiring reported last year. However, the picture has a complex underside due to shifting factors that stem from differences between certain industrial sectors, among regions of the country, and according to company size. Key findings from this year's report include: (1) Michigan-based companies that recruit nationally are cutting employment significantly. By not including these companies in the calculations, overall hiring would increase 14%; (2) A 13% expansion of the labor market by those companies that have set definite hiring targets for 2005-2006; (3) Nearly 50% of the reporting companies have sales and marketing positions to offer graduates this year; (4) Hot majors include: "All majors", Accounting, Nursing, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Pharmacy; (5) Small employers are hiring more graduates this year; up by 14% to 20%, even though these businesses are facing rising material and energy costs; (6) Larger employers are hiring in anticipation of pending retirements. However, the number hired this year is no different than last year; (7) The MBA market is growing outside the manufacturing sector. This sector is cutting back significantly on MBA hiring; (8) Salary increases will be modest this year; 2% to 3% higher than last year; and (9) An emerging skill is geographic awareness and a global understanding of events as they pertain to the company and industrial sector. Appendices include: (1) Definitions; (2) Background of respondents; (3) Labor market overview; (4) Hiring intentions; (5) Direction; (6) Actual hiring; and (7) Salary information. (Contains 20 tables.)