A recently released report from High Fliers Research has revealed that employers are receiving an average of 52 graduate applications per position this year. Perspective, an industry leader in individual learning plan software, says this high number emphasises the need to search for alternatives, such as vocational courses or apprenticeships, to weather these tough times.
High Fliers Research is a prominent organisation that conducts graduate recruitment research at the UK’s top universities. The company’s survey also revealed that this application number is an 11 per cent increase of the average applications received per post in 2011. Additionally, the study delved further into the state of the graduate market this year and discovered that many well-known organisations have already completed their recruiting efforts for 2012 after having filled their available positions. The report was based on responses from 100 employers in the UK, deemed to be the leading recruiters in the graduate market. These employers also stated that graduate applications have risen by 25 per cent since 2009.
Paul Davis, the managing director of Perspective, a respected company developing learning and apprenticeship management solutions within a systems interoperability framework, says: “All together, these figures indicate that an increasing number of graduates are failing to obtain employment each year as they complete their studies, creating a backlog of qualified applicants. This highlights the need for young people to look for alternatives to investing in a graduate degree that does not guarantee employment in today’s economy.
“The report is especially vital for those seeking employment in banking and finance, retail, or in consumer goods manufacturing, as these areas showed the stiffest competition, receiving at least 80 applications per graduate post. The fact that someone could spend considerable time and money to obtain a graduate degree and still remain unemployed certainly makes vocational courses and apprenticeships a more attractive option for many.”
Perspective is a leading provider of education tracking software, with its student management system, Sunesis, being implemented by numerous local authorities and businesses around the UK and subsequently being responsible for monitoring millions of learners. For more information, please visit www.perspective-uk.com or call 0121 506 9540.