Graduates set to ride out choppy UK jobs' market

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Employers did not feel age discrimination legislation would have a substantial impact on graduate recruitment, although the full implications would not become clear until after October next year.

The most effective attraction methods were national newspaper advertising, recruiters' corporate websites and job boards.

And while eight out of 10 graduate recruiters now had their own website, one in three was unaware that disability discrimination law applied to online recruitment.

IRS Employment Review recruitment and retention editor Neil Rankin said: "Our latest survey shows that new graduates can continue to feel confident about their job prospects.

"The claim, by some commentators, that the UK is producing too many graduates is not borne out by our findings; in fact, a substantial minority of employers still has problems recruiting the graduates they need," he added.

On entrepreneurship, a separate study by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship has reported that three quarters – 67 per cent – of students would possibly or seriously consider setting up on their own or with others in the foreseeable future.

London graduates are most likely to think this way (72 per cent), followed by the Midlands, the North West and South East.

But graduate recruiters need not panic just yet. When it comes to actual intentions, just four per cent of students said they planned setting up their own business as a likely next step upon graduation.

The most popular option was still to get a full-time job (59 per cent); followed by continuing in higher education (13 per cent) and taking a year out (10 per cent).

Ian Robertson, NCGE chief executive, said: "While many of the skills acquired at university, such as constructing a debate and presenting ideas, are invaluable to aspiring entrepreneurs, our institutions need to play a more active role in creating the kind of innovative environment where enterprise can flourish, providing budding entrepreneurs with the necessary inspiration and business acumen to take their ideas forward."

Financial worries and high levels of student debt were the two most likely reasons for deterring students from starting up a business, it added.


Author: Nic Paton