Graduate vacancies ‘highest’ since 2007

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The UK’s biggest employers are stepping up their graduate intake by 8.7% this year, research claims.

This rise will take graduate vacancies for those leaving university this summer to their highest level since 2007, according to the study of the country’s one hundred leading employers by High Fliers Research.

The biggest increases in recruitment are at public sector employers, accounting and professional services firms, City investment banks, retailers and engineering and industrial companies, which together expect to recruit almost 1,200 extra graduates this year.

Graduate vacancies were cut by 6.7% in 2008 and 17.8% in 2009, but increased by 12.6% in 2010 and 2.8% in 2011. Graduate recruitment dipped again by 0.8% in 2012 before recovering by 2.5% in 2013.

The median starting salary for new graduates in 2014 remains unchanged at £29,000 for the fifth year running.

The report also highlights that graduate employers are offering a record number of paid work experience placements for university students and recent graduates, through a comprehensive programme of paid internships and industrial placements.

The largest individual recruiters of graduates in 2014 will be Teach First (1,550 vacancies), PwC (1,200 vacancies) and Deloitte (1,000 vacancies).

“This very significant increase in graduate vacancies at Britain’s top employers means the job prospects for graduates leaving university this year are the best they’ve been since the start of the recession seven years ago,” said Martin Birchall, managing director High Fliers Research.

“And there are more opportunities than ever for university students to get paid work experience with the country’s most sought-after graduate employers – together they are offering over 11,000 paid internships and work placements this year for first and second year undergraduates.”