DAVIS — Students and leaders from business, government and higher education will explore solutions to unemployment challenges — including the soft job market for new graduates — at a half-day jobs summit at the University of California, Davis, on Tuesday (March 6).

"We want to talk about how we can be part of the solution," said Adam Thongsavat, president of the Associated Students of UC Davis. "How can we ensure we are the foundation for future prosperity and progress?"

The student government and university administration are presenting the event. Twenty student volunteers make up the core team that is organizing the summit. Organizers expect about 400 invited attendees. About half are expected to be students. (Students may still apply to participate; information is available at http://asucd.ucdavis.edu/california-jobs-summit-2012/.)

Thongsavat said organizers want to empower students and foster collaboration among business, government and higher education to solve problems associated with economic development and job creation.

Martha Clark Lofgren, a partner at the Brewer Lofgren law firm of Sacramento, will give the keynote address, speaking about the urgency of creating jobs and workable solutions. Clark Lofgren, who earned a law degree from UC Davis in 1985, has more than 25 years of experience with municipal government and related land-use issues.

Barbara Hayes, president and chief executive officer of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, or SACTO, will serve as emcee. Hayes graduated from UC Davis with a degree in international relations in 1985.

Breakout sessions will explore topics from professional hiring practices and students' preparedness for the workplace to government policies.

Soon-to-be graduates face double-digit unemployment in California and, Thongsavat said, their No. 1 concern is: "What the heck am I going to do after I graduate?"

Students may find some hope in Job Outlook 2012, a recently released survey report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Survey results from August and September indicated that among the responding employers, more than half expected to hire more new graduates in 2011-12 than in 2010-11 — on average, 9.5 percent more.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. in the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, and breakout sessions will run from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A panel discussion will begin at 12:45 p.m., and the program will conclude at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit http://asucd.ucdavis.edu/california-jobs-summit-2012/.