Major UK cities are likely to be affected by a 'brain drain' as over half a million graduates flock to London, Jobsite has warned.
The approaching exodus of qualified individuals to the capital was revealed in a survey that showed one in three current students was planning a move to London in search of employment.
Worst hit were likely to be cities like Norwich and Ipswich, as the survey revealed that only a fifth of students in East Anglia planned to stay in the area following graduation.
Around a third of first class students admitted plans to move to London, with 39% of 2:1 graduates also looking to relocate there. Respondents said that London represented the best prospects for starting a career, with one in ten planning the move because of the higher salaries on offer. Around 9% also believed that the city held a wider choice of jobs.
However, long term predictions showed that many did not intend to make the move permanently. Over half reported that they planned to spend less than a decade there.
Felix Wetzel, Jobsite Group's marketing director, said that the perception of London as the only place to go for the best jobs was misplaced. "Cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are real hotspots for a wide range of jobs and students should not rule them out too quickly," he said. "We would advise them to take a good look around and see what employers across the country are offering."
