University applicants 'optimistic' about job prospects

By Andrew Marszal, Digital Education Editor

Three-quarters of students (74.1 per cent) starting degrees this September think finding a graduate job will be "very easy" or "achievable", compared with 65 per cent this time last year, it is claimed.

The research suggests perceptions of career prospects are improving among students, who have been severely hit by the economic downturn. It follows a recent study forecasting an eight per cent increase in the number of graduate roles available next year.

Today's research, carried out by student accommodation providers UNITE, found that just over one-in-five (21.9 per cent) of this year's applicants expect finding graduate jobs to be "a challenge", down from 30 per cent last year.

"In many ways it is surprisingly given what’s been happening in the economy, but it underlines the confidence of this group of young people," said Paul Harris of UNITE.

"Young people are going through the process with much more rigour than I did when I was going to university – they’re more confident in what they are getting out of it."

Graduate job data is far from universally positive. Almost three-quarters of firms are preparing to freeze salaries for graduates at levels seen last year, while the number of graduate roles in traditionally high-paying areas such as finance and the legal profession is expected to continue to fall.

A separate study earlier this year found that employers were receiving 56 applications for each graduate post.

But the UNITE survey, which looked into both student experiences and applicant expectations of student life, also found that fewer students applied for university this year out of a perceived need to improve their job prospects.

Among students enrolling this year, 85 per cent chose to apply for university out of academic interest, compared with just 60 per cent wishing to improve their job prospects. Students were allowed to indicate three top factors in choosing to attend university or college.

"Students seem to still have the view that higher education is an end in itself – not just a means to an end," said Harris. "It’s interesting to see that these traditional values are still there in a changing market place."

The survey also found that nine-in-10 applicants want to use their time at university to gain work placements, including sandwich schemes, organised placements, voluntary work, secondments with companies over summer and internships.