The size of an organisation has an impact on the number of applications received and also on the calibre of the applicants. Of graduate employers in larger organisations, 855 rated the number of applications and calibre of their candidates as good or excellent compared with 62% and 71% respectively of smaller organisations. Overall, only 3% of organisations described the success of the 2005 campaign as poor.

A third of all employers stated that they would have employed more graduates in 2005 had a higher number of appropriate candidates been available. Over 40% or employers who participated in the survey, from Accounting /Finance and Construction/Mining sectors would have recruited more graduates. Shortages of suitable candidates were also evident in the Engineering sector.

Employers indicated that they are also likely to increase their recruitment of non-Australian resident gardauates in the future. Currently 15.75 of employers said that they would recruit a graduate whose permanent residence status was pending or through a sponsored work permit arrangement. However, 355 of employers indicated they intended to recruit in this area in the future.

From The graduate Grapevine, No 2, December 2005, pgs 2-3