New research has revealed that IT/telecoms and engineering companies are likely to be the top recruiters in 2012.
Job expectations are rising around the Engineering and IT market after the latest AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2012 revealed that job vacancies and starting salaries are set to increase this year.
Leading engineering and IT employers, including Microsoft, Mott MacDonald, E.ON, and Logica are predicted to increase their job vacancies for the next recruitment season.
The IT/telecoms industry is expecting a 32.5% rise in jobs; in second place are the energy, water and utilities companies (16% rise); while in third place is the engineering industry with an expected 10% increase; FMCG companies forecast a 6.4% hike in recruitment.
Such predictions are in line with the most recent KPMG/REC Report on jobs, which also concluded that the IT and technology sectors are among the strongest this year.
FMCG companies are the ones expected to offer the largest rise in starting salaries for 2011–2012 with a forecasted 4.9% hike, whereas engineering and industrial employers predicted a 4.2% rise; IT/telecoms organisations forecasted 3.8%; and energy, water and utilities companies 2.0%.
A promising career choice
On top of these optimistic prospects, further figures from the UK higher education admissions service (UCAS) has revealed that in comparison to last year engineering subjects have experienced the highest growth in applications for the next 2012/13 academic year.
The number of applications for chemical engineering degree courses has increased by 12.4%, attracting up to 11,890 applications last year. All subjects allied to medicine saw a rise of 2.1% in comparison to last year, while applications to engineering courses also climbed (1.3%).
“The UCAS figures suggest that students are thinking more carefully about the financial returns of their degree choice,” said Matt Stalker, communications Manager at the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
With more graduates in industries such as IT and engineering, as well as continued growth in these industries, the future for the best IT and top engineering recruiters could be bright.