Graduate employers have "significantly" increased the number of university leavers they plan to take on in 2010, after the stagnation of the jobs market over the past two years, according to research.
Top investment banks in the City plan to employ 33% more degree-level workers than in 2009, and accountancy, high street banks, professional services and retailers all expect to hire more university leavers this year.
High Fliers Research found 100 top companies had added an extra 1,600 jobs to this year's recruitment targets, but warned final-year students they face tough competition from previous years' graduates.
Despite the 12% increase in vacancies, 75% of employers had received "significantly more" applications than expected, and some had already filled their 2010 places.
Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, said: "Students leaving university this summer will be disappointed to find that many of these new positions have already been filled by graduates from the 'class of 2009' who had job offers postponed last year.
"Competition for the remaining vacancies is therefore likely to remain extremely tough and there is a widespread concern on campus that this year's graduate recruitment is shaping up to be just as difficult as in 2009."
