A new crop of job seekers is joining the ranks of the millions of unemployed: soon-to-be college grads.

And, unfortunately many students in the class of 2009 are finding out that the job prospects aren't especially bright. According to a spring 2009 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers expect to hire 22% fewer new college graduates than last year.

There are still plenty of jobs out there, but this year s graduates may have do a lot more legwork (networking, for example) and they may have to opt for a job that they hadn't really considered before, says James Tarbox, director of career services at San Diego State University.

In fact, the job search may have little or nothing to do with their major. But for many students, getting a paycheck may be more important -- especially once those student loans bills start arriving.

Here are seven industries that are actively hiring soon-to-be graduates.

All photos: Getty Images

Federal Government Jobs: Become a Spy -- or a Paper Pusher

New government programs and an aging staff (a large number of whom are expected to retire in the next five years) makes the U.S. government the go-to place for jobs, says John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Federal government agencies are projected to hire 5.7% more college graduates this year filling a total of 1,024 positions, according to the NACE's survey.

Among the agencies recruiting is the Central Intelligence Agency, which is looking for students with research and analytical skills for intelligence analyst positions and the National Security Agency, which is looking for students with information technology skills and quantitative skills to help prevent cyber threats, according to Skip Sturman, director of career services at Dartmouth College.

For more on available government jobs, click here.

Accounting: Crunch Numbers for the Big Four

Crunching numbers all day may not seem like a college kid s dream job, but the benefits of pursuing a job in accounting can really add up. After all, plenty of companies are trying to get their finances back on track and adjust to new administration s tax changes, says Challenger.

The Big Four accounting firms -- KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Deloitte -- have been recruiting graduates for entry-level positions, such as audit assistants and business analysts. Ernst & Young says it has already hired 2,600 graduating seniors, enough to meet its current needs. However, the other three firms are still hiring. PricewaterhouseCoopers says it's aiming to fill 3,000 positions.

Engineering: Become Part of the Green Movement -- or Work on Battleships

Guess what engineering students? All of those long nights studying (while your friends were off partying) are about to pay off.

President Obama's stimulus package, as well as his push for alternative energy use, is going to require plenty of engineering muscle: from environmental engineers who can help develop solar panels, wind power systems and car batteries to civil engineers who can develop and work on infrastructure projects.

Defense contractors are also hiring. BAE Systems, which builds military aircraft (among other things), is hiring electrical and mechanical engineers. And General Dynamics (GD) NASSCO Shipyard is in the process of hiring seniors nationwide, some of which will help build Navy ships and commercial oil tankers.

Computer Science & IT: Be the Brains Behind Corporate America

Technology is constantly evolving -- and therefore there's almost always demand for information technology staffers, says Jack Kleinhenz, CEO of Cleveland-based economic-consulting firm Kleinhenz & Associates.

For example, Reynolds and Reynolds, which manufactures software for car dealerships, has several openings throughout the country including software developers and desktop support positions. And Technisource, which provides IT services currently has openings for technical support and help desk agents.

Management Training: Learn the Industry from the Ground Up

That liberal arts degree isn't a total waste. Various companies are looking for business or liberal arts students to fill their management training programs.

Rental car agency Enterprise Rent-A-Car says it plans to hire 8,000 college grads by July, many of whom will start out at a rental branch in a customer service position and, within a year, move up to assistant manager, according to spokesperson Lisa Martini. L Oreal and Macy s (M) are also seeking graduates to join their training programs, says Trudy Steinfeld, executive director New York University's Wasserman Center for Career Development.

Transportation and Delivery Services: Getting Things from Point A to B

In this field, where companies are looking for people to track inventory (among other tasks), holding a Bachelor's degree will give you a leading edge over the competition.

UPS (UPS), for example, is hiring supervisors who oversee package handlers and clerks. And C.H. Robinson Worldwide, a global provider of transportation services, has entry-level positions that include call center dispatchers, managing shipper and carrier relationships, tracking load status and negotiating rates.

Nonprofits: Using Your Degree to Give Back

Cash-strapped consumers may be feeling less charitable these days, but nevertheless nonprofits are still hiring -- and they offer grads an opportunity to learn skills that will serve them well in future jobs.

New York-based Citizen s Advice Bureau, which provides food, healthcare and education to low-income families, has several positions that soon-to-be grads qualify for, including case managers that work within its homeless services division and job retention and community outreach specialists. Also, the Peace Corps is looking for recruiters.

Click here for more nonprofit jobs.