Competition for graduate roles is set to be tougher than ever in 2010 as more than half of graduates from 2009 join the hunt for jobs alongside the class of 2010.

The Alexander Mann Solutions research has shown this increased competition seems to have hit 2009 and 2010 graduates’ confidence, leading to less targeted applications and a willingness to apply for positions outside of their preferred field.

The Emerging Talent Index, found that of the students that graduated from university in 2009, just 24 percent have been working in a role that requires a degree since leaving university. More than half (53 percent) of the 2009 graduates surveyed are planning on applying for graduate positions this year. 63 percent of those set to graduate in 2010 are also applying for graduate roles (compared to 50% of recent graduates in 2009), leading to far greater competition for positions than in previous years.

Clodagh Bannigan, head of client services at Alexander Mann Solutions, said: “The lack of confidence in today’s graduate marketplace means that jobseekers are increasingly likely to formally accept multiple offers and then make their final decision just before their joining date. This is, perhaps, understandable in the economic climate but it represents a real challenge to employers. Organisations must factor in this kind of behaviour and ensure their strategy will not be adversely affected by applicants dropping out late in the day.”