The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has found that there has been an 8% reduction in jobs available for new graduates in a survey of ‘more than 200 top employees.’
In 2015 there was a 13.2% increase in graduate schemes from 2014. Some employers are changing graduate employment to ‘higher apprenticeships’, however the ‘labour market’ for young people is reducing.
There has been an increase of 13% in apprenticeships, by the companies surveyed but the AGR notes that this is ‘relatively small’ in relation to the reduction of graduate scheme.
The AGR Chief Executive, Stephen Isherwood, believes that Brexit has had a dramatic effect on employers hiring people for jobs. However, there still remains optimism in the market that many companies continue to offer graduate schemes and young people who leave school to join the job market will have many avenues available to them. The Department for Education adds the graduates still maintain an advantage over non-graduates and earn ‘on average £9,500 a year.’
The government should put the career prospects of young people at the top of their priority list, so young people can continue to have the same opportunities enjoyed by previous young people before Brexit.
Young people are likely to face the biggest drawbacks from Brexit, if companies are unwilling to hire new employees. The government should pursue policies, which provide confidence for companies, so they will continue to hire.
Young people should also be persistent and to remember that a rejection from a job should not put them off applying. As the AGR notes there remains opportunities for young people to pursue their ambitions and gain the job they desire.
The job market climate remains competitive and Brexit puts increasing pressure on the confidence of businesses. But with government policy in navigating Brexit from the EU, businesses should become more confident in hiring new employers, which is good for young people joining the job market. Young people should also keep on applying for apprentices, jobs and graduate schemes, to gain employment. By Samiha Sharif
