Many employers are still accepting job applications from graduates despite the fact that confidence amongst recruiters has fallen, according to a survey published today (30 April) by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).
The snapshot survey of recruiter confidence follows the AGR’s in-depth vacancies survey in February in which employers predicted a 5.4% decrease in the number of graduate jobs for 2009.
The 124 graduate recruiters who responded to today’s survey came from a wide range of industry sectors including banking and financial services, law firms, and engineering and industrial companies.
Four in five graduate recruiters said they felt either the same or slightly lower levels of confidence about the UK economy than they did three months ago. 60% of respondents said they had adjusted their target number of graduate recruits downwards since this year’s recruitment round began in October 2008 (and 57% said that they would be recruiting slightly or many fewer graduates in 2008/9 compared with 2007/8). When asked what they felt the biggest threat to their future recruitment plans was, 73% pointed to the economic environment, both in the UK and globally.
However, despite low levels of confidence, one third of employers surveyed said they were still actively seeking applications from graduates in 2009. *See list at the bottom of this release.
Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: “It is really important that graduates coming into the market this year do not despair and assume that there are no jobs whatsoever out there. As today’s snapshot survey shows, though there is certainly nervousness amongst recruiters about the impact of the recession on their business, not all have shut up shop by any means and a very significant number are still looking for bright graduates to take on. By providing details of exactly which employers are still hiring we hope to make life a little bit easier for both recruiters and graduates at what is a difficult time in the graduate jobs market.”
The AGR’s confidence snapshot survey was launched at the bi-monthly TargetJobs Breakfast News event in London which offers leading recruiters up-to-the-minute insights into the graduate recruitment market.
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For more press information please contact Anya Matthews or Henry de Rougemont at Colman Getty on 020 7631 2666 or anya/henry@colmangetty.co.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
- Carl Gilleard may be available for interview. Contact Colman Getty
- The AGR is the recognised national voice for all UK employers involved in graduate recruitment. The AGR has more than 800 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 01923 623263
- The next edition of the AGR’s in-depth graduate vacancies and salaries survey will be launched on Monday 6 July 2009
- BRAVE NEW WORLD?: Facing up the challenges of the graduate market in 2009 is the title of the AGR’s annual conference this year which takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort, South Wales from 5 - 7 July 2009
Selection of UK employers still actively seeking applications for graduate vacancies in 2009:
3M www.3m.co.uk/careers
Arriva www.arrivagraduate.com
Boots UK Limited www.bootsretailunlimited.com
Capgemini www.brighteraltogether.co.uk
Co-op www.altogetherdifferent.com
Corus Group www.corusgroupcareers.com
Danone www.danone.co.uk
Detica www.detica.com/careers
Dixon Wilson www.dixonwilson.com
Enterprise Rent-a-car www.enterprisealive.co.uk
Grant Thornton www.grant-thornton.co.uk/graduates
Jones Day www.jonesdaylondon.com
Mouchel www.mouchel.com/academy
Nationwide Building Society www.nationwide-jobs.co.uk/graduates
PricewaterhouseCoopers www.pwc.com/uk/careers
RM www.rmgraduates.com
Standard Bank www.standardbank.com/graduates
Olswang is recruiting now for 2011
www.olswang.com/traineesolicitor
The number of applications each employer is seeking will vary. Graduates should visit the employer’s website for further details.