GRADUATE SALARIES
Graduate starting salaries set to rise - AGR
Graduate starting salaries are predicted to rise this year after an unprecedented period of stagnation, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which has published the winter edition of its bi-annual survey.
The average starting salary for a graduate is predicted to increase by 4% to £26,000 this year.
It had remained at £25,000 since 2009.
Between 2006 and 2008, salaries increased by an average of 2% a year.
This predicted rise is the largest since 2005, when starting salaries increased by 7%.
The number of graduate vacancies increased last year by 1.7%, whilst this year vacancies are predicted to drop by 1.2%.
Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said: “The predicted increase to graduate salaries is significant and sizeable, particularly given the context of starting salaries remaining stagnant for the past three years. This will no doubt be welcome news to the government and the higher education sector, but moreover to graduates themselves.”
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A final word
“The findings show that the market is predicted to remain relatively stable, which is a relief and should be seen as good news against an uncertain national, European and global economy. With the job market intrinsically linked to business confidence, I am cautiously optimistic for graduate recruitment in 2012 and it is encouraging to see that only a slight drop is predicted.” - Carl Gilleard, chief executive, AGR.
Want to know more?
Title: Graduate Recruitment Winter Survey 2012, Association of Graduate Recruiters.
Survey details: The latest report is based on the responses of 214 AGR members in the UK across 20 sectors, which recruited 21,325 graduates in 2011. Education research specialists CFE carried out the research in November 2011.
Availability: The full report is available free to AGR members and is available to non-members priced £200. Visit www.agr.org.uk for further details.
The Association of Graduate Recruiters is the "recognised national voice for all UK employers involved in graduate recruitment". The AGR has 750 members from both the public and private sectors. To find out more, visit www.agr.org.uk.