Graduate employment survey sees employer participation double

Over 200 employers are taking part in Real Prospects 2010 - double last year's figure - making it the biggest piece of research into the UK's graduate employment market.

Now in its second year, the annual survey by Graduate Prospects aims to explore what graduates think about their jobs, covering areas such as training & development, leadership & management, salaries & benefits, opportunities for progression, corporate social responsibility and work-life balance.  (It will track graduates with up to five years' experience in the workplace.)

Last year almost 13,500 graduates responded to the survey, and the total is expected to increase substantially this year, particularly as a number of universities - including Manchester, Warwick and Nottingham - will be sending their graduates a link to the survey.

"With more than 200 organisations participating, the results will form a truly comprehensive picture of the reality of graduate employment," commented AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard.  "As the economy emerges from recession, Real Prospects will be nothing less than a signpost for the future for graduate recruitment."

Real Prospects manager Eden Keane says "It's been a fascinating year for the industry, and it will be interesting to see how the downturn has influenced graduates' views of their jobs.  We are expecting the survey to yield some astonishing data, providing invaluable information for employers who will be developing recruitment strategies and graduate programmes post-recession."

And although it's only four months till the results are due to be launched, it's still not too late to participate in Real Prospects 2010.  Interested employers can register by emailing Russell Rhys Davies at r.rhysdavies@prospects.ac.uk.