More finance graduate jobs forecast - graduate jobs

The financial sector will start to recruit more graduates this year after a prolonged period of job cuts, researchers have said.

Finance companies will increase recruitment by 15%, a greater rate of vacancies than in any other sector, according to salary analysts Incomes Data Services.

But the number of graduates in finance will still be down on 2008 - 38% of jobs were cut during 2009 - and average salaries will stay the same in 2010. The survey showed that graduate recruits got a pay rise of just 1.8% last year.

Public sector graduate workers are under the greatest threat this year as the Treasury prepares swingeing cuts to services to pay for the multibillion-pound bailout of the banks.

The survey said "graduates were right to fear the worst about job prospects in 2009" because the number of vacancies fell by 11%, the greatest fall in Incomes Data Services' yearly poll since 1991.

The number of vacancies arising this year is forecast to increase by 4%.