University leavers brushing up their CVs and finding the best cover letter in preparation for their first job will be pleased to hear that the graduate unemployment rate has dropped for the first time since the recession.
Research conducted by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) has found that while the rate still remains high compared to pre-recession levels, it did record its first drop since the recession gripped.
A record number of higher education leavers (63.4 per cent) managed to tie down graduate-level jobs in 2010, a 9.2 per cent increase on 2009 levels.
Charlie Ball, deputy research director at HECSU, said: "While graduate unemployment has fallen, it remains high in comparison to levels reported at the beginning of the recession and graduates still face stiff competition – not just from their peers but also from more recent graduates."
The average graduate salary ranged from £17,720 to £23,335 for those who left university in 2010.