The National Association of Colleges and Employers has released a compilation of the top 20 skills that employers seek. Ranked number one was verbal and written communication skills. Many college graduates are hired in jobs, which are not in the concentration they have studied in college. "When the economy is down, it is always a good idea to stash away some good education," said Michael Belzer, associate professor of urban and labor studies at Wayne State. But with the economy picking up after recent setbacks, "Now is a great time to get out in the job market," he noted.