Graduate Vacancies Set To Continue To Grow This Year

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has revealed that graduate vacancies will continue to grow in 2006 for the third consecutive year.

However, almost half of the recruiters are not confident that they will be able to fill all of the vacancies.

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2006 is the definitive independent bi-annual survey of some of the UK’s leading employers. The Winter Review analyses predictions for the forthcoming year including graduate vacancies, salaries and other key trends. The survey, carried out by Hobsons, is based on the responses of 222 AGR members many of the UK largest graduate recruiters in both public and private sectors. The survey reveals that the number of graduate positionsnis predicted to increase by 14.6 per cent - significantly higher than last years vacancy increase of 5.1 per cent.

Graduate salaries also look set to continue rising AGR members are predicting a median starting salary of £23,000. This is only an increase of 2.3 per cent, the smallest increase for five years, but employers do not foresee starting salaries to be a recruiting challenge in 2006.

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the AGR, said: “For the third year running the vacancies for graduates are predicted to rise, which is great news for the Class of 2006. Starting salaries are also set to increase, with the graduate recruitment market remaining buoyant, and employers continuing to acknowledge the additional contribution to the bottom line that graduates bring.”

The biggest increases are reported by organisations in the public sector, telecommunications, construction and oil.

(CD)