Deloitte has reported a 34% increase in the number of graduates applying for its positions in its Scottish business, with a 59% rise recorded at its Edinburgh office.
As many companies cut back on new staff, the professional services firm has said it will take on 1,000 graduates across the UK.
Deloitte, which works in areas from accountancy to insolvency, said the number of applications to its Scottish operation had been increasing over the past few years. Concerns over the availability of positions has encouraged even more to apply early for 2009.
Jim Boyle, talent partner for Deloitte in Scotland, said: "I've found that some graduates who might ordinarily take a post-university gap year have been applying to Deloitte during their final year rather than wait until they return."
Sarah Shillingford, graduate recruitment partner at Deloitte, added: "A number of graduate recruiters have cut back on recruitment figures and, as a result, more students are competing for our positions than ever before."
Shillingford added: "Students graduating in 2009 face a tougher job market than those who graduated in previous years. The value attributed to job security by students is higher than I have seen before."
