Graduates 'choosing further study' - graduate jobs

The majority of final year university students are choosing to continue in further study or gain work experience in a bid to beat the recession, according to university careers advisors.

A survey by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) shows that 81% are seeking to continue in further education, or in gaining work experience (63%).

Around a third of careers advisors (35%) reported an increase in students and graduates seeking advice, with 17% noticing a decline in young people using the university careers service.

The HECSU survey also showed that 78% of careers services reported a decrease in the number of graduate jobs being advertised during the recession. However, some noted an increase in graduate vacancies being advertised by locally-based companies, and community or voluntary organisations, particularly in the public, education, social care and engineering sectors.

HECSU researcher Kathrine Jensen, who led the study, said careers services "should be busy" during a recession but "it seems this isn't always the case."

She added: "The rise in graduate opportunities in smaller companies could be due to the proactive approach being taken by many careers services to fill the shortfall of opportunities from the usual employers that advertise with them."