AGR survey, part II…

Recently-released results from the AGR's biannual survey of the graduate recruitment marketplace suggest that graduate vacancies will decline by 5.4% this year.  But a closer look at the findings suggests that it isn't all bad news, and that there are even a few reasons for optimism.

Firstly, the slowdown in graduate recruitment isn't as sharp as it was back in 2003 - and is nowhere near as grim as the downturn of 1991/2.  Secondly, several sectors anticipate recruiting more graduates in 2009 than they did last year.  (These include FMCG - up by 12.9%, engineering - up by 8.3%, and the public sector - up by 3%.)  And finally, a 14% increase is expected in graduate vacancies across Scotland.

At the next TARGETjobs Breakfast News meeting (to be held in the RFH's Skylon restaurant on 25^th February), the AGR will reveal what some have already been dubbing ‘The AGR survey part II'.  Based on an even more recent survey conducted exclusively for Breakfast News, this will focus particularly on the confidence levels of graduate recruiters throughout the UK.

The results of the second survey, when taken in conjunction with the first, should provide the most complete and up-to-date picture of what's happening in the world of graduate recruitment.  And given the level of economic uncertainty right now, getting a complete picture of anything can't be bad.