Graduate job vacancies are expected to increase by 16.4 per cent this year, according to new research.
The bi-annual survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) also found that salaries will grow by an average of 2.1 per cent, bringing the median to £24,000.
However, it also revealed that 67 per cent of recruiters anticipate challenges in filling the vacancies, citing increasing selectiveness by candidates and lack of skills as reasons for the worry.
One-quarter of recruiters claimed they now actively market graduate vacancies overseas, in order "to recruit the very best talent that is available".
Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, remarked that it is "worrying" that UK graduates may be looked over in favour of overseas students as this could have bigger implications for the economy.
"There is a strong message in these results for those seeking a graduate post in 2008 - don't delay, start applying for posts straight away and make sure that you prepare your applications carefully," he said.
Investment banks and law firms were revealed to be the best-paid graduate job industries and the public sector found to be the lowest.
The National Statistics' Economic and Labour Market Review found that financial services experienced higher growth than any other UK business sector in the last decade.
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