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Graduate employment 'resilient' to slowdown

The economic slowdown has yet to make an impact on graduate recruitment, according to the chief researcher for the Higher Education Career Services Unit (HECSU).

Although the credit crunch is likely to impact on recruitment of university-leavers, graduate unemployment is currently at its lowest level since 2000 at around six per cent, Dr Charlie Ball noted.

During the recession of the 1980s and 90s, that figure rose to over ten per cent.

While stating that it would be difficult to predict how the market will act this summer, Dr Ball also said: "Looking at the graduate recruiter survey for example, who look at a lot of the blue chip companies, they are still saying they are recruiting more graduates than they did last year."

HECSU has also found a significant increase in the average starting salary for those leaving university, from £17,715 to £18,501. This rises to £22,781 for economics graduates.