Understanding the Graduate Labour Market

Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Worldwide

The Graduate Labour Market can be structured by region

Students at Queen’s can access three main labour markets across UK/Ireland - in order of size theseare:

Worldwide

Great Britain

Republic of Ireland

Northern Ireland

Graduate Labour Market in NI

• Northern Ireland has the biggest SME base of any region in the UK – accounting for nearly 80% of private sector employment and 75% of turnover.

• Recruitment by SMEs is infrequent and can take place at any time of the year.

• Large public sector – especially education and health (Belfast HSCT biggest in UK)

• Graduate opportunities still exist – organisations are still recruiting

• Increased competition for existing graduate opportunities

How to find employers/vacancies in NI

• ‘Vacancies’ section and ‘Other Sources of Vacancies and Information’ at Careers website www.qub.ac.uk/careers

• Employer websites eg NI Civil Service https://irecruit-ext.hrconnect.nigov.net , NHS www.HSCRecruit.com

• Local newspapers eg Belfast Telegraph, Irish News

• JobCentre On-line www.jobcentreonline.com

• Yell www.yell.co.uk (useful for identifying companies in different occupational areas/locations etc)

Graduate Labour Market in ROI

• Although overall number of jobs and places on graduate schemes has fallen graduates are still in demand.

• Certain sectors are thriving, including IT, professional services and accountancy.

• Many vacancies are not advertised – “the hidden job market “

Source: www.gradireland.ie, 2011

How to find employers/vacancies in the ROI

• Gradireland www.gradireland.com

• Gradireland Directory

• ‘Vacancies’ section and ‘Other Sources of Vacancies and information’ at Careers website www.qub.ac.uk/careers

• Newspapers eg Irish Times, Irish News

• Targeted speculative applications

Graduate Labour Market in GB

• Broadening your search =– more opportunities– higher salaries– More opportunities for training and development

• Metropolitan areas have a greater concentration of businesses, offering more opportunities.

• London & South East England - highest salaries

• Campus recruitment is still important to employers, but 65% jobs are gained through creative job searching

• Don’t leave applications to the last minute as in some cases places are filled before the closing date

How to find employers/vacancies in GB

• ‘Vacancies’ section and ‘Other Sources of Vacancies and Information’ at Careers website www.qub.ac.uk/careers

• Graduate Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk and other graduate careers sites

• Employers’ own websites• Graduate employer directories• National newspapers• Specialist publications• Speculative applications

Worldwide

How to find employers/vacancies worldwide

Become familiar with CV formats and application process in the countries you are interested in.

•Targetjobseurope available at www.targetjobseurope.com•Gradireland.com.careers advice.Working outside Ireland •www.prospects.ac.uk for country specific information covering over 50 countries•EURES – the European Employment network Office of the DEL www.europa.eu.int/eures/