The day after the UK voted in favour of leaving the EU I wrote a blog post entitled What does a ‘Leave’ vote mean for graduate jobs? Back on 24 June all anyone could do was speculate, so is this picture any clearer now?

Dire prophecies of Britain falling swiftly into recession have been avoided and both Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse have lifted their growth predictions for 2016/17 – removing the expectation of recession.

This should be good news for graduate jobs, right?

Well it’s probably still too early to say. The latest survey results from the Association of Graduate Recruiters forecasts an 8% reduction in graduate vacancies compared to last year. Undoubtedly some of this is a reaction to Brexit but the picture is complicated by several employers looking to shift the nature of their intake from graduates to apprenticeships. It is possible that more positive outlook on economic growth will cause employers to adjust their figure up as we move through the recruitment cycle.

What we do know is that employer interest in engaging with LSE students and recent graduates remains high. The latest QS World University Rankings see LSE rated as one of the top universities in the world for employer reputation. The LSE Careers programme of activities offers you a myriad of opportunities to meet with employers and alumni covering all sectors and interests. One-to-one appointments are available to discuss your individual circumstances and aspirations and our online resources provide support on all aspects of career planning and job hunting.

So is the picture clearer?

No, not yet and until the discussions about how and when Brexit will be implemented reach a more advanced stage it is unlikely that clarity will appear. In the meantime my advice from June 24 still stands: concentrate on yourself not on trends, be proactive, be flexible and make the most of the support available. We look forward to seeing you.

Jenny Blakesley, Director, LSE Careers

12 September 2016