UNIVERSITY leavers are in for a treat this year with the number of graduate jobs on offer set to rise, a new report predicts. Experts at High Fliers Research also expect average starting salaries to be up three per cent on last year, at £23,000. Researche

UNIVERSITY leavers are in for a treat this year with the number of graduate jobs on offer set to rise, a new report predicts.

Experts at High Fliers Research also expect average starting salaries to be up three per cent on last year, at £23,000.

Researchers think vacancies will rise by almost 11 per cent overall, with the accountancy sector on track to recruit the largest share of graduates.

But it is not thought vacancies in retail and the public sector will increase.

The Graduate Market report looks at the top 100 firms to work for, according to graduates.

Over half of leading employers expect to recruit more graduates in 2006 than last year, according to the research.

Managing director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said students soon to graduate should take advantage of the buoyant market.

"The best advice for final-year students hoping to begin work at the end of their degree is to start job hunting as soon as possible," he said.

Competition is set to be fierce, with more than 260,000 graduates chasing fewer than 90,000 jobs, he added.