ALMOST two-in-three employers in Northern Ireland are increasing their graduate intake in a bid to plug gaps in recruitment, a new survey suggests.
Ulster University’s 2022/23 Graduate Employer Survey found 58 per cent of employers experiencing challenges in recruiting staff, with 39 per cent reporting an undersupply of graduate skills.
Just under two-thirds (64 per cent) said ‘too few candidates’ was their main recruitment challenge.
Some 62 per cent of those surveyed said they expected to increase their graduate intake over the next 12 months.
Ulster University’s research was carried out last summer, based on the feedback from 216 respondents. The university said the survey was carried out following the launch of the new Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland in March 2022.
More recent business surveys have consistently identified recruitment as an increasingly more challenging issue for businesses here.
Some 87 per cent of firms who took part in the latest quarterly survey from the Northern Ireland Chamber reported difficulties in finding staff.
Ulster University’s survey found that while graduates are desired by employers, the vast majority (94 per cent) said work experienced was important in the selection of their graduate recruits.
Around one-in-three employers (31 per cent) said they were recruitment from all subject areas.
IT was identified as the top technical skill sought by employers with verbal and written communication the most desired ‘soft skills’.
Of those surveyed, 72 per cent said their average graduate starting salary was at least £21,000.
Angela Scanlon, director of student and graduate success at Ulster University said: “It is more important than ever for Ulster University to listen and respond to the employer voice to ensure that new and existing partners have access to student and graduate talent with relevant skills, and to support the employability outcomes of students.
“As a multi-campus university in Northern Ireland, we place a strong emphasis on collaborating with employers to understand the skills and attributes they require and strive to connect our student and graduate talent to the labour market.
“The strength and sustainability of Ulster’s partnerships with employers however, relies on the institution being aware and responsive to their needs and keeping abreast of recruitment changes to support agile and flexible practice which is why this survey is so important for us.”
