Unemployment among IT graduates has fallen for the first time since the beginning of the recession, research has found. The number of graduates out of work, after leaving university, dropped from 16.3 per cent in 2009 to 14.2 per cent in 2010, according to research from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU).

There was a 4.2 per cent rise in the number who had IT jobs in the UK, with a total of 68.6 per cent in work, the annual survey of graduates found.The proportion of graduates working directly as IT professionals also jumped from 38.9 per cent to 44.2 per cent. The majority of these (14.4 per cent) were software designers and engineers, followed by programmers and computer analysts (7.4 per cent) or web developers and producers (5.8 per cent).

Google, Microsoft, Unilever, BSkyB, Credit Suisse and Lloyds TSB Banking Group as well as the NHS were just some of the companies and organisations that had employed IT graduates. The research, which some 8,845 people took part in, also found that less IT graduates are undertaking further study. This number dropped sharply from 11.3 per cent to 9.5 per cent. However, a large IT gender gap is still present, with the survey discovering that only one-fifth - 17.4 per cent, or 1,540 employees - were women.

Graduates were undertaking a variety of Masters and PhD degrees, such as computer science, management, computer games technology, computer security and resilience, e-business and financial systems engineering. This shows the spectrum of emerging and evolving industries where IT graduates are now required, such as the rapid increase in gis jobs available. Options for non-IT degrees included law and international human resource management.

"The jobs market for graduates in IT and computing degrees is improving, and the unemployment rate is coming down," said Charlie Ball, HECSU's deputy research director. “It’s also encouraging to see many graduates in the sector are going to work for small and medium-sized businesses – often very exciting and dynamic places to start your new IT careers"

"Graduates in computing and IT are also more likely than most to start their own business and this enterprising streak is good for their careers and good for the economy.”

According to separate research, IT roles in the retail sector have risen this year by 21 per cent. Advertisements for retail contract work increased by 24.4 per cent. And ads for permanent positions in software companies and consultancies grew by 18.8 per cent in the past year. Job opportunities in financial industries rose by 3.9 per cent. Contract roles in the same sector jumped by 16.5 per cent in the past 12 months. One industry insider said that the increases were likely to be a result of firms outsourcing to get costs down.

In early October, figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that unemployment in the UK was at a 17-year high. There are now nearly one million young people between 16 and 24 who are jobless. Plans to recruit 5,000 business mentors to help push up the number of female entrepreneurs, and to help kick-start the economy, were recently unveiled by the Government.

There are 2 things you need to know about Carl Gilleard. The first is that he's head of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) which makes him a walking oracle on the graduate market. The second is that he's an uber golf enthusiast. So to tempt him away from the office we invited him to indulge in both his passions...

The result is this video which is the first in a regular series of films offering a unique insight into how things look in the graduate market each quarter. In it Carl reveals his advice for graduates, his views on the key issues facing employers and his predictions for 2010.

But most importantly, remember readers...drive for show, putt for dough!

This is the first in a series of guest blogs by our über intern Natasha who has spent the summer with CareerPlayer

07.30 AM: Bran flakes, coffee and Facebook.

If anyone assesses my Facebook page they will establish that it is a place where my friends, family, past and present can connect to me at any time of the day. However, it's not only friends and family that we can establish constructive connections with via online networking. 

After five weeks at CareerPlayer I have realized that there are a myriad of tools that students can use to find graduate jobs. There is one tool in particular that I feel compelled to bring to your attention. Social networks! Social networks are excellent for facilitating the search for a graduate placement. “Identify what your goals are and surround yourself with the people you need to help you achieve them.” This is easier than ever before!

Twitter is my top recommendation for connecting with graduate employers. Twitter is a brilliant tool for you to broadcast what you want out of your graduate career. However, that alone is not enough. You must make sure that the right people are listening! By ‘following’ the leaders in your target industry you can grab the attention of your future employers. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain answers to your questions. In addition, you gain an invaluable insight into the finest minds in the business! You can find out what they watch, read and even eat! This increases the ease of understanding the people and the mechanics of the industry you intend to work in. Through maximizing your knowledge, you maximize the chances of you landing your dream graduate job! Twitter may also help prevent you making any fatal graduate career mistakes. Linking with potential employers and colleagues will enable you to paint a picture of the personality of a company. Don’t like what you see? Then you can immediately eliminate them as a target employer. Therefore, saving time in applying for a graduate position in a company you will loathe working for. 

LinkedIn is a network that is fantastic for connecting with business professionals. LinkedIn is similar to most social networks in the sense that you can exchange messages with industry experts. However, there is the additional opportunity to read their CV’s. This will help you better establish how people achieved their current positions.    

And of course we cannot forget our beloved Facebook! Loads of graduate employers are starting to create pages on Facebook so it's easier than ever before to interact with companies you're interested in...just be careful your profile reflects the kind of image you'd want then to see. You want catch their attention for the right reasons...

Graduate job hunting is certainly no walk in the park! Let the friends in your network know what you're looking for and allow them to support you online via posting valuable newspaper articles, videos and links. “I saw this and thought of you” could now enable you to nail your first graduate job!

For further information, keep your eyes peeled for the CareerPlayer video on social networking coming soon...

Just came across this multi award winning short film. Conceived as a comic twist on immigrant day labour in the US, it does make me think about the state of things in recruitment at the moment!!