Employers still see the benefits of graduate talent, despite a reduction in graduate recruitment, according to the chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).

Following a survey earlier this week from market research firm High Fliers, which shows that job vacancies for students graduating this summer had fallen by almost a fifth, Carl Gilleard says that in this recession employers are not losing sight of the benefits of investing in graduate talent.

“It is still an uncertain picture and things can change. Some sectors are actually doing better currently and very few employers have completely cut their graduate schemes,” he says.

“This year’s graduates should apply early and consider other options such as competing in the general labout market, staying in higher education, volunteering, taking a gap year or considering the government’s new internships scheme which is due to start later this year.”