A survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters has revealed that more than 1,000 graduate jobs were cut from the recruitment plans of the country's top employers in the four months leading to September 11.

In addition, according to NTC Research, which tracks recruitment advertising, the number of new graduate advertisements for important industry categories is four per cent lower than last year. This excludes adverts for posts in higher education, which would turn the fall into a rise of 19 per cent.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "Businesses will routinely adapt their graduate vacancy targets throughout the year in response to economic and market pressures and it would be very surprising if they didn't."

"However, despite the changing economic climate, it is encouraging to see that, according to these figures from the survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters, some 13 of companies have increased their graduate recruitment targets, and in the vast majority of cases, some 90 per cent, offers remain on the table."

"Prospects for UK graduates remain good. Labour market forecasts by the National Skills taskforce show that between 1999 and 2010 there will be a significant growth of 1.73 million jobs in those occupations that typically recruit graduates."