There are jobs that people take just to earn a living, and there are those they are born to hold. The results of a career test may be able to help individuals achieve the latter. Something else that could help jobseekers land a desired position is earning a college degree, if they do not have one already. That is because new research from Michigan State University's (MSU) Collegiate Employment Research Institute (CERI) reveals that total hiring for college graduates across all fields of study is expected to increase by 4 percent in 2013.

The survey and its results
Researchers from the CERI polled more than 2,000 U.S. employers to gain insight into their hiring plans for the year ahead, The Associated Press reported. According to survey participants' responses, hiring for graduates of four-year programs is expected to rise roughly 5 percent, while those who earn associate's degrees could see a 30 percent increase in employment opportunities.

Which graduates will see the most job opportunities?
Overall, 40 percent of surveyed employers said they will hire candidates from all majors - choosing to hire based on talent, more so than what subject they earned a degree in.

"Employers want to be much more flexible; they want to be agile," said Phil Gardner, CERI's director. "They're bringing in employees who can slide in multiple directions depending on what transpires over the next year. And that opens the door for students from a variety of academic backgrounds."

At the same time, the survey results show that candidates with a background in marketing, advertising and public relations may encounter the best opportunities for employment. These findings are certainly in line with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) job outlook data, as public relations managers are expected to see a 21 percent increase in job openings through 2020. Faster-than-average growth is also projected for public relations specialists, who could see job opportunities rise by 23 percent during the same time frame.

Meanwhile, employment prospects for advertising and promotions managers are expected to increase by 13 percent, while marketing managers could see them rise by 14 percent by 2020.

Jobseekers should be ready to adapt
According to Kelley Bishop, MSU's career services director, college students need to be flexible if they wish to land a job in a workforce that is more concerned about innovation than majors.

"The premium is being placed on flexibility and adaptability, because this change in the labor market looks like its permanent," Bishop said. "Those who can quickly adapt are the ones who are going to survive through this and prosper through this."