The average start salary for UK graduate entry roles is set to rise higher than previously predicted, by 6% to £26.5k.
This the prediction is based on the Association of Graduate Recruiters’ (AGR’s) bi-annual survey 215 of its member firms across the private and public sectors, published today (4 July).
The winter 2012 edition (published 26 January) saw recruiters predict a 4% rise to £26k, following three consecutive years of salary standstill from 2009-11.
Meanwhile, the number of vacancies for graduates was predicted to dip by a marginal 0.6%, accompanied by a decline in the applications per place so far this year, from a record 83 in 2011, to 73 this year.
A 2:1 degree classification remains the most common selection criteria used by graduate recruiters, with 76% using it as minimum entry standard for the graduates they recruit. This increased from 73% last year.
AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard says: “While graduate recruitment and development programmes are part of employers’ long-term strategy, the graduate job market is inextricably linked to business confidence.
“With the continuing uncertainty in the Eurozone, it is encouraging to see that employers are still talent-planning for the future and that the number of graduate vacancies is remaining constant.”
For more on graduate recruitment in 2012, see Colin Cottell’s feature in
Recruiter (February) ‘
Graduating with the wrong skills’.
