Grad Facts

Grad Facts

International Graduate Trends

United States

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) regularly reports on the graduate market in the United States.

Their May 2009 "Spotlight Online" report indicates that

"Results from NACE’s Student Survey show that less than 20 percent of 2009 grads who have applied for a job actually have one in hand.In comparison, more than half of 2007 grads and 26 percent of those graduating in 2008 who had applied for jobs had one by time of graduation.Of the students who did land jobs, 73 percent had completed an internship at some point in their college careers."

Their March 2009 "Spotlight Online" report indicates that

Employers responding to the Job Outlook 2009 Spring Update survey now expect to hire nearly 22 percent fewer graduates from this year’s class than they hired from the Class of 2008.

This is an update from their January 2009 "Spotlight Online" report indicates that:

"Market analysts speculate that, in 2009, overall unemployment could reach 8.5 percent. Furthermore, they say, unemployment for those with a bachelor’s degree or better is likely to climb from the current 3.1 percent to 3.7 percent, while unemployment for young bachelor’s degree holders figures to bump up from the current estimate of 3.4 percent to an estimated 4.1 percent"

The March edition also indicates that

Internship hiring will be cut by nearly 21 percent this year and co-op hiring by 11 percent, according to employers responding to NACE’s 2009 Experiential Education Survey . The last time hiring for both was down was in 2004.

The February edition of "Spotlight Online" further advises that the Winter 2009 issue of NACE’s Salary Survey shows little movement in starting salaries for the college Class of 2009.

United Kingdom

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2009 indicates that, for the first time since 2003, graduate vacancies are predicted to fall in 2009, with an expected decrease of 5.4%. Average graduate salaries are also not expected to rise in the current recruitment season.

AGR's Graduate Recruiter magazine detailed research findings from Moloney Search Campus, which showed that graduates have changed their approach to searcing for a position, with almost 80% now open to considering more sectors and 71% saying they would apply to a wider selection of roles and functions.