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Both degrees and computer skills are more important than ever in the current job market, according to new research.

If you are beginning to doubt the employment value of your university education - take heart.

As reported by Personnel Today, a recent study by the ESRC Research Centre on skills knowledge and organisational performance has found that the proportion of jobs requiring degrees has increased.

The proportion of jobs requiring degrees has increased in the past 20 years from 14 per cent to 21 per cent among men and from six per cent to 18 per cent among women.

Bill Rammell, minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, commented: "All the evidence points to a growing need for skills for our competitiveness. Ever fewer jobs will require no qualifications in future."

The evidence also suggests that to have the best chance of securing their dream career, students should brush up on their technological know-how.

Computer skills were found to be more important that ever, with nearly half of all jobs now requiring applicants to have them.

Based on this research, it seems that students studying on IT courses have all the bases covered.

Recent research has suggested that students on technical courses such as computing expect to be paid more than their counterparts in the arts upon graduation - and have clearer career plans for when they leave university.