Students graduating from university next year will find it harder to get jobs than those applying in previous years according to Deloitte, one of the UK’s largest private sector graduate employers. Deloitte has seen a 40% increase in the number of students applying for graduate positions starting in 2009. This data shows that there are more students competing for available graduate jobs than ever before.

Commenting on the increase, Sarah Shillingford, Graduate Recruitment partner at Deloitte, said: “The current economic climate has not affected our graduate recruitment plans. At this stage, we are anticipating around 1,000 graduate vacancies, broadly the same number of graduates as previous years. A number of graduate recruiters have cut back on recruitment figures and as a result, more students are competing for our positions than ever before.

“Students graduating in 2009 face a tougher job market than those who graduated in previous years. The value attributed to job security by students is higher than I have seen before, both in terms of the employers they are attracted to and the timing of their applications. Applications have been increasing for the past few years, but this year in particular, concern about student debt and the availability of graduate positions has led many to apply early. I’ve found that some graduates who might ordinarily take a post-university gap year have been applying to Deloitte during their final year rather than wait until they return.”

Research from Highfliers on student debt shows that over the past ten years, student debt has more than trebled. The average debt of a student leaving university in 2008 was £11,600 compared to just £3,200 in 1999.

Thinking ahead, Sarah added: “Given the high demand for jobs from students this year and the reduction in recruiting by some organisations, anyone who hasn’t yet applied for a graduate role should do so quickly, and those in their first and second years would be well advised to think ahead about their career choices.”

ENDS

About Deloitte
In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte & Touche LLP, which is among the country's leading professional services firms.  Deloitte & Touche LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu ("DTT"), a Swiss Verein whose member firms are separate and independent legal entities.  Neither DTT nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions.  Services are provided by member firms or their subsidiaries and not by DTT.  Deloitte & Touche LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.