Graduate recruitment survey results
An Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) survey has revealed a rise in the number of graduate vacancies for the first time since the recession began.
The winter edition of the AGR's bi-annual survey, published on 25 January, shows that the number of vacancies rose by 8.9% during last year's recruitment season, and the upward trend is predicted to continue during 2010/11.
Although there are signs that the graduate recruitment market is not completely out of the woods - the average starting salary remained at £25,000 for the second year in a row, and fewer employers are offering lump sum payments or education premiums - the results do show that the graduate job market is picking up.
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, commented that, "[The] survey is a clear indication that UK graduates are still highly valued by employers. Universities will be one of the key drivers for our economic recovery.
"University is a life-changing, long-term investment that has benefits both for the individual and society generally. It provides students with the ability to think innovatively and analytically, and provides them with the ability to develop and adapt their skills for the future.
"Research shows that graduates earn on average considerably more than non-graduates and are more likely to return to employment following periods in unemployment. Individual rates of return on degrees in the UK also remain strong, especially when compared with other countries. Getting a university degree is a long-term investment."
Read the AGR's statement on the survey results Posted in: Higher education newsStudent education