Employment prospects brighten for graduates

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Employment prospects brighten for graduates

Job prospects for graduates are looking up in 2004, according to a new report.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) survey predicts that graduate positions will increase by 11.9 per cent this year.

The AGR also claims that average graduate starting salaries will rise by 3.9 per cent to £21,000 in the 2004.

The good news follows two years of falling employment levels.

Banks and accountancy levels will offer the best starting salaries to graduate, but, the study reveals, few employers plan to offer initial bonuses to new starters.

The smallest number of vacancies in 2004 are in the marketing and human resources areas, while more jobs will be available for graduates in the banking, retailing, accountancy and engineering sectors.

The public sector is also expected to continue its recruitment drive in 2004 and it will also be boosting pay for new graduates by more than the average.

The number of employers planning to pay a "golden hello" to graduate recruits has fallen from 32 per cent to 25 per cent.

AGR suggests that the news that graduate prospects are improving could help sway the vote on charging top-up tuition fees.

"Starting salaries for graduate level jobs are increasing year on year, suggesting that employers remain convinced of the added value that graduates bring to businesses, both public and private," Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR said.

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