A study of jobs with 100 top employers has indicated that graduate vacancies in the UK are going to ‘increase significantly’ after 2 years of cuts.  Apparently recruitment targets have increased by 12% in 2010 which equates to 1,600 jobs, however, it is thought that more than 400 of these places have been filled by students who graduated in 2009.

However, this is a positive step – indeed half the top employers who participated in the survey indicated that they are likely to recruit more this year compared with last year.

• Investment banks have indicated that they will be increasing their graduate intake by one third more than 2009.
• Retailers, high street banks, accountancy and other professional services are also expected to follow suit.
• Largest recruiters of graduates in 2010 will be PricewaterhouseCoopers with 1039 vacancies and Deloitte with 1000 vacancies.
• The army currently have 735 places
• Teach first have 650 available places
• KMPG have 650
• RAF have a total of 600

Even though there will be a rise in graduate places available, starting salaries are not expected to rise at this time, remaining at the 2009 level of £27,000. Even so, its a highly positive step in the right direction!