Graduate recruitment is expected to increase slightly in 2010, according to an IDS report.

Graduate recruitment fell by a huge 11% in 2009 – with only a slight increase forecast for this year – as university-leavers competed with an average 44 applicants for every vacancy.

It is anticipated there will be a rise of 3.7% in 2010 graduate recruitment, although this is still down 8.3% compared with 2008, according to a survey by research organisation Incomes Data Services (IDS) of the UK’s biggest graduate employers.

There are marked differences in recruitment levels between the industries. For example, IDS stated that the public sector was set to decrease its intake by 6.6%, while the finance industry is expected to increase its intake by as much as 14.6%.

Jessica Evans, IDS’ author of the report, said: “After a difficult year it looks like companies are starting to relax a little and think about expansion again. However, we are still some way off the recruitment levels seen just two years ago and the pool of graduates clamouring for jobs is increasing as quickly as ever.

“Private sector companies want to prepare for the future with more staff, but the financial situation might be preventing them from using cash to entice graduates in. Fortunately for these companies, the jobs market for graduates is such that they don’t need to offer huge incentives in order to attract talent. It is very much a buyer’s market.”

The report revealed that the average starting salary for graduates is £25,606 (£23,004 in the public sector), increasing to upwards of £33,000 in the finance sector.