Pay and recruitment freezes thawing - graduate jobs

Graduates can expect to see an increase in a number of job vacancies especially in the management and sales sectors as companies look to ways to maximise growth.

Recruitment freezes are now thawing across the UK, with just 7% of companies holding back from hiring new staff. This is down from 61% in early 2009, research by the CBI and recruitment specialist Harvey Nash found.

The situation is also improving for those hoping to enter the construction industry, with just 21% planning a recruitment freeze in the next six months.

Some 23% of employers are looking to hire workers for roles in management, technical and sales, while 21% want to add employees to specific business sections while cutting jobs in other departments.

Pay freezes are also thawing, down from 55% in early 2009 to 14%. However most companies are still keeping a close eye on wages in order to control costs.

John Cridland, deputy director general, CBI, said: "During the recession, private sector employees adopted a can-do attitude, accepting that measures such as pay and recruitment freezes were the alternative to companies going under, and further job losses.

"Sustaining that spirit of co-operation will be more challenging now the immediate threat appears to have passed."