Graduate jobs are on the rise with London and the South East leading the way

GraduateMore than half of the graduate jobs available will be found in London and the South East

Annual research undertaken by the Association for Graduate Recruiters has found that 44% of all graduate jobs were found in the capital and just less than 10% in the South East.

Wales and Northern Ireland were the worst places for graduate jobs with just 3% of the total vacancies. The North East, North West and Yorkshire only generated 12% of all graduate jobs last year.

Graduate vacancies have increased over the last year and graduate starting salaries are slowly increasing with employees increasing starting wages by 2% to £25,500 in 2010-11. There are signs that the graduate recruitment market is starting to come out of the recession and many recruitment plans are increasing their graduate intake.

A record 83 graduates chased every graduate job available showing how difficult it is to get a foot in the door with so much competition. Graduates are having to apply to many different roles and consider jobs that otherwise would have been ignored.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said: “I am cautiously optimistic about today’s findings, which provides a welcome indication that the graduate recruitment market is beginning to overcome the impact of the recession."

Mr Gilleard added: "It is challenging and time-consuming for recruiters to sift through these applications, especially as the survey shows that the overall quality has increased. Recruiters have developed a variety of methods for dealing with all the applications, such as online testing and assessment centres.

“My advice for graduates is to make sure you reflect on what you have learnt – both at university and in an extra-curricular capacity – and be able to articulate it in your applications and at interviews; think about what transferable skills you might’ve gained and how you’d apply your knowledge and experience to different situations.

"If you are able to get into that mode of thinking, you will be immediately more attractive to employers.”

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