UK Training Industry Press Releases

• Employers estimate 6.9% drop in graduate vacancies
• Race for graduate jobs intensifies as applications soar
• 78% of employers now insist on minimum 2.1 degree
• Average graduate salary frozen at £25,000 since 2008

The number of graduate vacancies has fallen by nearly 7% this year* according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which published the summer edition of its bi-annual survey today (Tuesday 6 July), on the final day of its annual conference.

Today's reported decrease follows a drop of 8.9% in 2009. The median graduate starting salary has also failed to rise and remains at the 2008 figure of £25,000.

The drop in vacancies has caused a corresponding increase in the number of applications for each much sought-after graduate job - the average now stands at 69 for every vacancy, compared to 49 last year and 31 in 2008.

This is due not only to a decrease in jobs but also to the number of graduate job seekers being swollen by 2007 and 2008 graduates who have yet to find work and an understandable move on the part of graduates to send off more applications during a downturn. Graduate recuiters have responded by retreating to the safety of the minimum 2.1 degree selection criterion in order to cope with the influx. The AGR survey shows 78% of employers now insist on this as opposed to 67% in 2008.

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the AGR, said: "Two consecutive years of decreases in vacancy levels is a familiar pattern during an economic downturn and this latest fall mirrors the two-year drop in graduate vacancies prompted by the dot.com crash in 2001/02. Employers' earlier predictions for this year's recruitment season have turned out to be somewhat premature in their optimism and today's findings suggest that the recovery is going to be slower than previously thought.

"Recruiters are under intense pressure this year dealing with a huge number of applications from graduates for a diminshing pool of jobs. Those of our members who took part in the survey reported a total of 686,660 applications since the beginning of the 2010 recruitment campaign. It is hardly surprising then that the number of employers asking for a 2.1 degree has shot up by 11 percentage points. However, while this approach does aid the sifting process it can rule out promising candidates with the right work skills unnecessarily. We are encouraging our members to look beyond the degree classification when narrowing down the field of candidates to manageable proportions."

The AGR is the leading voice of graduate recruiters and developers and its bi-annual survey provides the most extensive and detailed insight into the state of the graduate jobs market. Today's edition is based on the responses of 199 AGR members in the UK across 18 sectors who will provide an estimated 17,920 graduate vacancies in 2010. The research was carried out by CFE in May 2010.

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Summer Survey 2010 also contains the latest statistics on:

• Graduate vacancies and salaries by business sector, career area and region
• The availability of student placements and internships
• Graduate development programmes and induction
• Graduate retention rates and salary progression

[ENDS]

For more press information, please contact Scarlett Yianni or Amy MacLaren, Colman Getty, on 020 7631 2666 / 07793202870 / 07980843088 scarlett/amy@colmangetty.co.uk>

* This year's recruitment season October 2009 - June 2010

• Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of AGR, is available for interview. Contact Colman Getty
• The AGR Graduate Recruitment Summer Survey 2010 is based on responses provided by 199 AGR members in May 2010. Collectively, these members are estimated to offer a total of 17,920 graduate vacancies
• Press copies of the report are available on request from Colman Getty. The full report is available free to AGR members and is available to non-members priced £200, visit www.agr.org.uk> for further details
• The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey was conducted by CFE on behalf of the AGR
• The AGR is the recognised national voice for all UK employers involved in graduate recruitment. The AGR has 750 members from both the public and private sectors. To find out more about AGR membership, visit www.agr.org.uk> and click on ‘Join AGR' or call 01926 623 236.
• CFE are research and consultancy specialists in employment and skills. CFE has been providing expert services to public and private sector clients for over twelve years. With over 35 dedicated staff, they work on behalf of government departments and agencies, local authorities, colleges, universities and employers. www.cfe.org.uk>
• The AGR annual conference took place from 4-6 July at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales. The theme was ‘Success in a rapidly changing landscape:

      How to succeed in the graduate market' and keynote speakers included Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Penny de Valk, Chief Executive of ILM (the Institute of Leadership & Management)

Senior Account Executive - Campaigning

Colman Getty Consultancy

scarlett@colmangetty.co.uk>

www.colmangetty.co.uk>

Tel: 00 44 20 7631 2666

Fax: 00 44 20 7631 2699

Colman Getty

28 Windmill Street

London W1T 2JJ

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