Fight for graduate jobs heats up as wages rise
THE number of university graduates vying for each UK job vacancy has reached its highest ever level, as starting salaries for entry-level roles increase for the first time since 2008.
Recent graduates applying for jobs at some of the UK’s most active recruiters will face competition from an average of 82 other applicants per role, according to latest figures from members of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).
The number of candidates for each role has been rising steadily since 2008, when the average number of applications per vacancy was just 31.
However, graduates entering the job market can take some comfort from the fact that vacancies are predicted to rise by 2.6 per cent this year.
The biggest number of new vacancies is expected to come from the consulting and business services sector.