Graduates looking for their first job in the Midlands will be pleased to hear that jobs and salaries are soaring with 58.3% of 900 SMEs planning to take on additional staff over the next six months.
This is according to research from the HR Dept which also found a 20% increase in the number of roles available to graduates and professionals when compared to two years ago.
More jobs and higher salaries on offer
Sara Abbott, Director at HR Dept, said that this image of the Midlands reflects the national results of their extensive survey while also demonstrating growing confidence in the UK economy.
SMEs are the backbone of the British economy and their expectations of recruiting more staff is great news for those looking for work, she added.
However, it’s not just recent graduates who are set to benefit but also those currently working.
The research found that 66.2% of respondents are planning pay rises during 2015 with 34.7% of firms expecting to increase salaries by 2% this year while 27.8% will increase wages by 2-5%.
3.7% of firms will give their staff pay rises of over 5%.
Wages increase despite stalling inflation
Due to the fact inflation has fallen since 2011 – with it currently being around 0% – it’s extremely encouraging to see that two thirds of British firms are planning to or have implemented a salary increase, Ms Abbott said.
This combination of salary growth and soaring recruitment means graduates are set to enter the UK job market at a strong time and there are even indications of long-term stability.
According to the survey, there has been an 8.3% year-on-year decrease in firms using redundancy services which means university leavers could land themselves a secure job with good prospects.
If you’re a recent graduate and would like to make the most of the roles on offer in the Midlands, speak to Discovery Graduates today
