Demand for graduates remains high, study shows

Demand for graduates remains high, with 79 per cent of employers planning to take on new recruits in 2017/2018. The study was conducted by HR resource website XpertHR.

The study surveyed 186 private and public sector employers. It found they are taking on the same amount or more graduates than in previous years.

Plans

The research found 49 per cent of businesses have plans to recruit as many graduates as they did in 2016. 44.2 per cent are aiming to hire more, and just 6.8 per cent are planning to take on less.

Larger businesses that have 1,000 or more employees are planning to cut back on the number of graduate recruits, with 21 per cent saying that they will be taking on fewer than they did in 2016.

The study also showed that starting salaries for graduates have remained the same since 2008/2009. However, graduates are still being offered a variety of different starting salaries, with the highest being £48,000 and the lowest £15,000.

Larger businesses in the private sector were found to be offering higher starting salaries at £25,000, compared to £23,000 at companies with 250 to 999 employees and £22,000 at those with less than 250 employees.

Consistent

Commenting on the benefits of recruiting graduates, one of the survey’s respondents said: “Graduates provide a higher, more consistent return to a business both short term and long term. Their application is great – conscientious and professional with a desire to learn more, so why would we not want to hire more?”