A recent poll conducted by Experience.com found that job creation is the most important issue in the current presidential debate when it comes to Generation Y voters, according to an article by BusinessWeek. Of the 12,900 respondents to the poll, 77 percent said entry-level job creation would factor into who they plan to vote for.

This isn’t all surprising, as the economy continues to decline. In September, non-farm payroll employment decreased by 159,000 jobs, the highest number of job cuts in more than five years, while the unemployment rate stayed steady at 6.1 percent. Major industries to lose jobs included construction, manufacturing and retail trade, while mining and healthcare added jobs, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

September’s cuts follow revised losses of 73,000 jobs in August and 67,000 in July and show the decline in employment is accelerating, according to an article by Reuters. Some 51,000 manufacturing jobs were lost last month on top of 56,000 cut in August, the 27th straight month in which manufacturers slashed their payrolls.

Job cuts were nearly across the board in September in every major category with the exception of government, which added 9,000 jobs.

“We’ve seen weaker data in history, but these look pretty decisively to be the beginning of something worse,” Pierre Ellis, senior economist with Decision Economics Inc. in New York, said in the article.

When asked to list the most important issues the next presidential administration will face, respondents to the poll more frequently chose the economy than any other issue, perhaps because it’s getting harder for new graduates to find work. Of those polled, 58 percent said economic stimulation was among the most important issues, while only 34 percent said global warming and climate concerns were more important.

Of the 11,000 Generation Y participants who chose to reveal who they plan to vote for, 61 percent said they plan on voting for Obama/Biden, while only 21 percent said they would vote for McCain/Palin.

MonsterTRAK today released a list of the top five industries hiring for entry level jobs. The list is based on a review of job openings posted on the company’s Web site, according to an article by PR-Inside.

“Though business and finance postings continue to dominate the majority of entry-level openings, the rise in medical and educational opportunities suggest a shift in the type of jobs available to entry-level candidates,” the article notes. “More and more employers are realizing the value of providing entry-level training and development programs in an effort to promote and groom from within.”

The first industry is sales and business development, making up about one-fourth of all posts for entry level job openings. This industry includes jobs in account management, real estate, advertising and field sales.

Next is the accounting and finance industry, which has accounted for about 15 percent of entry level job postings, despite the current credit and mortgage crises. Jobs in this industry include accounting, financial analysis, consulting and administration positions.

Training and instruction employment opportunities have increased by 90 from last year, and include jobs in special education teachers, junior high school teachers, college administrators, counselors and adult education specialists.

Information technology and software development entry level job postings were also popular, with jobs available in web and software design, consulting, online security systems, computer maintenance and help desk support.

Medical and health entry level job opportunities increased by 200 percent from last year, with the most popular positions being for nurses, dental practitioners, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and general practice physicians.

“As the medical and educational sectors continue to add jobs, as well as expand online recruitment efforts, we expect their need for qualified applicants to outpace other white-collar industries that previously dominated year-over-year growth such as the slowing financial and business sectors,” Mark Charnock, vice president and general manager of MonsterTRAK said in the article.

“Because the majority of industries, regardless of the sector, will continue to face a shortage of talent generationally, many employers are looking to attract entry-level candidates by offering long-term growth potential and other perks,” Charnock continues. “This remains good news for students who are undecided about a degree path, as well as recent graduates and young professionals still looking for their first opportunity.”