Every graduate job 'receives 52 applications'

The state of graduate recruitment has been a hot topic since the recession hit a number of years ago.

The state of graduate recruitment has been a hot topic since the recession hit a number of years ago; however a recent study shows that things are beginning to improve with on average 52 applications for every graduate position posted this year, boasting 11% increase on last year alone.

The 2012 High Fliers survey of the graduate market shows that applications to the UK's leading employers have risen 25% since 2009 most of which have finished recruiting for the year, closing applications early due to high volumes of applications. This study, was based on responses from 100 "leading companies", suggests graduate opportunities increased by 0.9% in 2012, which shows that for the third year running, companies are taking on slightly more graduates.

While the 11% rise in applications shows a positive step forward for graduate recruitment it also reflects the large numbers of graduates who failed to find employment following their studies in previous years, the Managing Director of High Fliers says, ‘university-leavers from the 'class of 2012' are still facing considerable competition to land a good graduate job this summer.’

With the help and drive of teacher-training organisation ‘Teach First’ who are taking on 1,000 graduates this year, vacancies in the public sector were expected to increase by 20% this year, however the survey also said that there remains to be a recruitment freeze in many government departments and agencies.

The most competitive sectors such as, banking and finance, leading retailers, consumer-goods manufacturers, employers are receiving at least 80 applications per graduate post. The sector with the lowest number of applicants per vacancy is accountancy and professional services.

Managing director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said: "it’s good news that Britain's best-known and most sought-after employers are defying the recession and have increased their graduate recruitment for the third year running.’

"Employers have already received an unprecedented number of applications for this year's graduate vacancies and organisations in several of the most popular career sectors have now filled all their places for 2012 or have closed-off their applications early."

Source: Pareto.co.uk, Friday 6th July 2012