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Competition For Graduate Jobs Increasing

06 Jul 2009

Competition For Graduate Jobs Increasing A new report by the Association of Graduate Recruiters says that competition for graduate jobs is increasing – with an average of 48 candidates chasing every vacancy on offer.

The report also says there are a quarter fewer graduate jobs now than last year. The Association of Graduate Recruiters surveyed 226 graduate recruiters and found that they expected to recruit a total of 12,650 graduates between them this year.

The fall in the number of graduate vacancies is larger than the five percent which the last Association of Graduate Recruiters survey predicted.

Starting salaries for graduate jobs have also been frozen for the time being with the average staying at around £25,000 in England, £16,000 in Wales and just £13,000 in Northern Ireland.

The chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters,Carl Gilleard, said that, "We cannot hide from the fact that dramatic vacancy cuts will make the job search very tough for graduates both this year and probably next year too."

There was some good news though as the energy, water and utilities sector reported an increase of just over seven percent in the number of graduate jobs they expected to fill in 2009.

Also, David Lammy, the Higher Education Minister has stated that the government are lifting the numbers of internships available to five thousand in an effort to help graduates to get more experience during the downturn. Lammy acknowledged that these are “undoubtedly tough times” but stressed that a degree will always be a valuable investment. He said that a degree “stands graduates in good stead for a long and successful career” and opens up opportunities that those with lower qualifications couldn’t aspire to.

If you are graduating this year then it will pay to start looking early for opportunities. Get a head start on the other 47 average candidates who might be competing with you by searching our graduate jobs pages now.

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