Graduates will become less choosy over jobs as more than half of graduates from 2009 join the hunt for jobs alongside the class of 2010.

According to new research from Alexander Mann Solutions (AMS), of the students that graduated from university in 2009, just 24% secured work that requires a degree since leaving university, while 53% of the 2009 graduates plan on applying for graduate positions this year and 63% of 2010 graduates are also applying for graduate roles (compared to 50% of recent graduates in 2009.

The study also shows that 18% of 2009 graduates are applying ‘for any job’, while 59% are applying for roles across a number of sectors and just 37% of all respondents are limiting their applications to positions which tie-in with their long-term career goals.

Clodagh Bannigan, head of client services at Alexander Mann Solutions, says: “The lack of confidence in today’s graduate marketplace means that jobseekers are increasingly likely to formally accept multiple offers and then make their final decision just before their joining date. This is, perhaps, understandable in the economic climate but it represents a real challenge to employers. Organisations must factor in this kind of behaviour and ensure their strategy will not be adversely affected by applicants dropping out late in the day.”