The news that the next year is set to see a hiring boom across a range of sectors is surely music to the ears of job hunting graduates.
As many make their first foray into the world of work in the coming months, they will be pleased to know that a whole host of vacancies await them.
According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) JobsOutlook Survey 81% of employers are planning to increase the amount of permanent staff they hire within the next four to 12 months. This figure is an increase of 2% when compared to the last quarter.
And as well as there being an upward turn in the number of permanent vacancies, graduates can also vie for agency staff roles if they are keen to test out a sector before they fully commit to it.
Almost half (48%) of the 600 employers questioned revealed that they were planning use more agency staff across the same period. This again represents a rise of 2% quarter-on-quarter.
Figures demonstrate “real confidence” amongst employers
Speaking to HR magazine, REC chief executive Kevin Green argued that an increase in levels of permanent hiring is in an indication that employers have “real confidence” in market conditions.
“While I wouldn’t say this is a change of direction for employers, as permanent hiring has been relatively strong for a while, it is very encouraging to see our members looking to build towards the future,” he said.
Graduate candidates top of the hiring agenda
Recent research conducted by research firm Incomes Data Services (IDS) revealed that graduates are at the top of employers’ recruitment wish list, with employers expecting to take on 18% more graduates in 2014.
The finance sector is leading the way when it comes to boosted levels of graduate hiring (+42%), this was followed by employers in the manufacturing and service sectors (both +22%).
“Recruitment prospects for this year’s crop of graduates look brighter than they have for a long while as the number of job opportunities is set to rise sharply,” said Nasreen Rahman, assistant editor at IDS.
