NI Employers Hire More Graduates

A majority of employers in Northern Ireland have increased their intake of graduates to plug the recruitment gap, according to new research from the Ulster University.

The University found that 62% of employers said they have increased the number of graduates they had employed, 94% of employers stated that work experience is "important" to their selection criteria, while 31% of employers were willing to recruit "from all subject areas".

Employers across Northern Ireland were surveyed to gain an insight into the graduate labour market recruitment needs.

The 2022/23 Graduate Employer Survey Report found that 58% of employers are experiencing recruitment challenges, while 62% reported 'too few candidates', and 39% reported that there is an undersupply of graduate skills. When respondents were asked how the higher education sector can better support the development of these skills, many pointed towards the importance of the year-long placement model and the value of work-based learning.

Other key findings include:

• 72% reported an average graduate starting salary of £21,000

• 26% require support in developing inclusive, diverse, and confident workforces

• IT and computing skills top technical skills identified

• Verbal and written communication top soft skills identified

Commenting on the findings of the report, Angela Scanlon, Director of Student and Graduate Success at Ulster University said: "It is more important than ever for Ulster University to listen and respond to the employer voice to ensure that new and existing partners have access to student and graduate talent with relevant skills, and to support the employability outcomes of students. As a multi-campus university in Northern Ireland, we place a strong emphasis on collaborating with employers to understand the skills and attributes they require and strive to connect our student and graduate talent to the labour market.

"The strength and sustainability of Ulster's partnerships with employers however, relies on the institution being aware and responsive to their needs and keeping abreast of recruitment changes to support agile and flexible practice which is why this survey is so important for us."