Graduate unemployment rise is a significant concern

12.15.00pm GMT Mon 2nd Nov 2009

Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has called for more to be done to tackle rising graduate unemployment, after it emerged that unemployment amongst 2008 graduates has risen from 5.5% to 7.9%, with 2009 graduates likely to experience even more difficulty in finding work on leaving university.

Greg said "There is increasing evidence of particular difficulties for civil engineering and construction graduates, together with a big drop in employment in financial services. I want to see a clear commitment from the Government to do more to support graduate employability in their forthcoming higher education strategy at a time when they are widely believed to be contemplating higher tuition fees and when student debt is increasing sharply and access to student loans is in crisis".