RCVS says graduate increase has little impact on jobs

According to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the increasing number of students graduating has had little impact on veterinary job prospects.

While UK graduates who have registered with the college have increased over the past five years, they are still successfully finding work.

In a survey carried out by the Institute for Employment on behalf of the RCVS, it was revealed that 94 per cent of graduates seeking a role in clinical practice obtained work within six months of looking, on average.

The number of graduates increased from 650 in 2007 to 819 in 2012. An average of 618 overseas also registered to the college annually during this time.

RCVS President Jacqui Molyneux said: "After the announcement from the University of Surrey that it will be opening a new vet school in the near future, there was a great deal of discussion amongst the profession about how easily new graduates could find employment.

"I undertook to get some real facts and am pleased to find that the pictures not as gloomy as predicted."

However, of the survey's 1,354 respondents, it was revealed that more than 40 per cent of the 2012 graduates who had left their position at a new job had done so within the first three months.

"This is an area that we, as a profession, must address," commented Ms Molyneux.

Click here, to read a summary of the survey results.