Chemists report a fall in graduate recruits

Graduate recruitment by the chemical industry is heading for a fall this year, according to a survey by the Chemical Industries Association.

Firms surveyed said they were expecting to recruit a total of 437 graduates and postgraduates in 1996 - a 9 per cent decrease on 1995.

Chemists are expected to make up 34 per cent of the total number of recruits, and nearly 60 per cent of postgraduates finding jobs.

Chemical engineers, the next largest category of recruits, are expected to make up approximately 24 per cent of the total.

The CIA began its annual graduate recruitment round-up in 1986.

This year, for the first time, the survey is expecting more chemical engineers than chemists to be recruited at first degree level.

The small decrease in recruitment this year is almost entirely due to cutbacks in postgraduate employment.

The CIA says the forecasted fall is "disappointing and somewhat alarming".

The association suggests that two major factors are currently determining company recruitment policy.

There is considerable restructuring of the industry worldwide.

But for the CIA, a more "worrying" finding is the reduced spending on R&D, which has declined in the chemicals sector from 3.3 per cent of turnover in 1993 to 2.9 per cent in 1994.

The survey of 70 firms covers most of the major employers of graduates, including Johnson Matthey, Kodak and Glaxo Wellcome.