Though the American economy remains in a malaise, with alarming numbers of people chronically unemployed for so long they no longer are considered unemployed because they can't get unemployment benefits any more, two areas have been exempt from that - government employees and new college graduates.

Unlike the rest of the economy, those two sections never had negative growth and now hiring is expected to jump a whopping 16 percent for newly minted degree-holders in 2014-15, according to Recruiting Trends, the annual survey by Michigan State University economist Phil Gardner with responses from nearly 5,700 companies. 

Most industries report a rapid increase in anticipated hiring of cheaper, younger graduates, led by information services (up 51 percent over last year) and finance and insurance (up 31 percent). Other growing industries include professional, business and scientific services; government; manufacturing; nonprofits; and health services.

Led by a 51 percent jump in information services (which includes Internet publishing and Internet content providers), hiring for college grads is expected to increase rapidly this year. Credit: Michigan State University

In addition, the market is strong for nearly all types of new degree-holders. Those with an MBA degree lead the way with an estimated 38 percent spike in hiring, followed by doctorate (up 20 percent), associate's (up 19 percent), bachelor's (up 16 percent) and professional (up 8 percent). Hiring for new master's degree graduates should be stagnant. When all degrees are taken into account, hiring is expected to increase 16 percent.

What's yet to be seen, Gardner said, is whether the double-digit increase in hiring for college graduates will become the norm or if it's simply a one-year surge before the market settles down.

The full Recruiting Trends report will be released in November.