Graduate job vacancies up 17%, says AGR

Jo Faragher

UK employers will report a 17% predicted increase in the number of graduate vacancies this year, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). 

The banking and financial services industries predicted the largest increase of 54%, with employers from 11 of the 13 sectors surveyed expecting to take on a larger number of new graduates in 2014.

The only sectors anticipating a decrease are fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), of 13% and water and utility, of 9%.

Reflecting this increased business confidence, graduate starting salaries are also set to improve. The media starting salary has risen £500 from last year to reach £27,000. Graduates entering investment banking or fund management can expect the highest starting salaries, at a median of £43,500.

But as with many sectors of the employment market, a substantial number of vacancies remain unfilled. Almost one quarter (23%) reported that they still had unfilled vacancies at the end of 2013. A number predict this trend will continue throughout this year. 

Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of the AGR, said: “The rise in vacancies and salaries shown in our summer report is fantastic news for graduates, and it is encouraging to see that employers are able to invest in graduate talent in this way.”

But Isherwood warned against getting complacent. “There are still unfilled graduate vacancies as employers are not always able to find the right people, with the right knowledge, skills and attitudes, for the job,” he said.

“Graduates must ensure they really do their research, target their applications and ensure their CVs do them justice if they want to be in with a good chance of securing a place on a graduate scheme following university.”