Companies need to be prepared to pay starting salaries of over £27,000 a year to meet the growing expectations of Northern Ireland’s students when they graduate.
That’s according to a survey of 600 University of Ulster and Queens University Belfast Students by a sister company of NIJobs.com which also revealed that male students expect a higher salary than their female counterparts.
Universum’s report found that job security and clear career development prospects are also important to the next generation of graduates, but salary remains one of the most contentious.
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Overall, a starting salary of £27,256 is now expected in a first job, up from £25,148 last year. When it comes to salary expectations by gender, male students expect £28,279 and female students £26,599.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the above, the results of the Most Attractive Employers survey also found that high future earnings were the primary focus for male graduates while a friendly work environment was the primary motivator for a potential job from females.
Meanwhile, flexible work environments, a key draw for more experienced workers, were not seen as a significantly important for those surveyed.
The most desirable brands to work for are Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, as well as local names such as Deloitte, PwC, BBC, and the Civil Service.
Steve Ward, 海角视频 and Ireland business director at Universum, said local companies need to think cleverly to attract the right candidates.
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“The emphasis on salary and job security suggests that students are considering the implications and long-term impact of the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. “It’s clear that they want to be rewarded for their expertise, but they also want to have security that will allow them to provide for their future.
“In contrast to male students prioritising high future earnings, female students value a friendly work environment. This shows that job security and other financial attributes are, of course important, but staff do want to feel valued and part of positive work culture. It’s important that employers strike the right balance between reward and recognition especially with fresh talent coming to the workplace.”
NIJobs.com said the job market in Northern Ireland remains buoyant, with a consistently high number of roles across a variety of sectors. Demand can often exceed supply, so the graduate market plays an important part in filling these roles, particularly within the IT and Tech sectors.
Recent data from NIJobs reveals Graduate and Apprentice Jobs are up 88% YoY and have increased by 12% since pre-Covid levels in 2019. The top five sectors for graduates in 2022 are Engineering, IT, Construction, Accountancy & Finance and Banking, Financial Services & Insurance. While overall, since 2019, one in four of all graduate jobs are in IT.