BOULDER - The number of companies looking to hire University of Colorado students and alumni has jumped 28 percent since 2006, the university said as it is prepares to host its fall career fair for current students and alumni.

The fall career and internship fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, in the University Memorial Center. The fair is open only to CU-Boulder students and alumni.

The number of postings for part-time jobs also jumped, increasing 37 percent, while the number of internships for CU students increased by 50 percent, according to a press release from CU.

The increase comes despite the recession and cutbacks in companies' recruiting of recent college graduates, according to Lisa Severy, director of CU-Boulder's Career Services office.

"We have certainly put a great deal of time and energy into building employer relationships across the region and nationally," Severy said in the release. "In addition, we have heard from some recruiters who were scaling back their on-campus interviewing programs by only going to a handful of schools. With the power of CU's reputation, we've stayed on those 'preferred schools' lists."