A survey of 200 employers conducted this week by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) revealed that this year, the average starting salary on offer for new graduate recruits is 2% higher than in 2010, standing at ??25,500. Though the AGR represents many of the largest graduate recruitment firms and therefore the figure itself is higher than the average for companies nationwide, a trend such as that indicated by this survey can be held as a very positive indicator that companies affected by the recession are beginning to recover from it.
Of course, the starting salary of a position shouldn't be the only consideration when seeking to analyse the graduate job market. Another indicator researched by the survey tells that competition for these roles is higher than ever, with an average of 83 applicants per job, rising from 69 in 2010 and 49 in 2009. This suggests that though the jobs available themselves represent a more appealing prospect, they are still heavily in demand. Again, however, the nature of the survey means that a single figure does not paint a fully clear picture of the entire market, as it masks the differences between sectors. As expected, the fields of investment banks and energy companies see the highest competition for graduate vacancies, in the region of 200 per place. Meanwhile, consulting and business service companies receive just 31 applications per place.
Overall, this survey creates an increasingly positive image of the prospects of a recent graduate. While even the roles with the lowest amount of applications remain highly competitive, the growing confidence of employers signified by the rise in starting salaries could well be followed by an increase in the number of vacancies available, making it all the more likely that graduates can secure the job that they desire.
Jon, GRB Journalist
