The public sector is typically comprised of public services and enterprises which are funded by the government and taxpayers. Most businesses within the sector are not-for-profit; they are typically responsible for providing public services such as education, healthcare, social care, emergency services, housing, and more.

In March 2022, there were an estimated 5.74 million employees in the public sector which make up nearly 17% of all people in paid work. This is an increase of 67,000 employees from the same time period in 2021. Therefore, it’s clear that the Public Sector is growing in the UK and graduates could be the answer to supplying much-needed staff.

We’ll take a look at the benefits of recruiting graduates in the Public Sector.

 

What Attracts Graduates to the Public Sector?

The public sector is a highly sought-after sector to work in as its staff make an essential contribution to society. Many graduates have a keen interest in working within the sector for a variety of reasons. The public sector has great employment opportunities that guarantee stability. Additionally, it offers the chance for ongoing training and development, and it provides good pension schemes. For example, the Civil Service offers competitive salaries for graduates to work in areas such as Security, HM Treasury, and the Foreign and Commonwealth office.

 

How Employing Graduates Benefits the Public Sector

It’s a common dilemma among employers: whether to employ a graduate or someone with experience. While there are advantages to employing someone with experience, the are also many reasons why the public sector should hire graduates. Yes, graduates may have little to no work experience, but that isn’t always a bad thing. Graduates can bring a wealth of transferable skills to the table and be good for the bottom line.

We’ve put together just some of the many reasons why the public sector should employ graduates:

 

Enthusiasm for Social Causes

By and large, given the current social and economic climate in the UK, many graduates are looking to make a change. They want to move to careers that are more meaningful and that provide help and assistance to their community. The Public Sector is the perfect place for graduates to feel like they’re giving back to the community, while also making a living. Furthermore, graduates bring dedication and enthusiasm to roles in this sector. Moreover, they tend to be more passionate about the societal impact their job will have.

 

Adaptability

Graduates are the best-equipped candidates in the country for adapting their skills to new roles and challenges. A university degree teaches you how to think critically, solve problems, analyse information, and adopt new viewpoints. These skills are essential in the public sector. As we rebuild our economy and public services after the Covid-19 pandemic, public-sector workers have learned to adapt to new environments and challenges every day.

 

Innovation Demands a Fresh Perspective

The Public Sector is a difficult area for innovation to take place. Policies in need of updating, an older workforce, and red tape generally make it harder to foster innovation in this sector. Nevertheless, recruiting graduates into the Public Sector could be the answer. Graduates represent the up-and-coming generation of workers. They come to the job with a fresh perspective, and new ideas and ways of seeing things. Their innovative minds have grown up with technology at their fingertips. Who better to foster innovation in the Public Sector?

 

Graduate Schemes

Thousands of graduates choose to accept a job with one of the many public-sector companies providing graduate schemes. Take, for example, the NHS, Teach First, Civil Service, Secret Intelligence Service, Local Government, and The Metropolitan Police.

While these schemes offer tremendous opportunities for training and work experience over a set period, they often don’t guarantee a job at the end of it. Therefore, as a public-sector provider, you could reap the benefits of this training and relevant experience by offering them a job. The fact they have just trained within your industry means they have first-hand experience of the challenges of working in the sector. Consequently, this will also make them more motivated to break down barriers to public services like healthcare and education.

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Creating a Green Economy

Across the UK, a whopping 74% of councils have declared a climate emergency. They have set the year 2030 as the target for reaching net-zero carbon emissions. However, a survey conducted by UniteGroup found that only 18% of undergraduate students feel that the UK government is doing enough to tackle climate change.

The graduates of today and their children are the ones who will be inheriting this emergency. For this reason, the younger generations stand to gain the most from reaching this target and are therefore motivated and driven to make the deadline. Net-zero carbon emissions are not only good for the UK, but for the entire planet. With Climate Change being introduced as a subject at GCSE level, there’s no doubt the future of the UK economy must be greener. Including graduates in the workforce will bring this change about more quickly and efficiently.

 

It’s Easy to Recruit Graduates

There have never been more ways to access a large pool of talented graduates. The Public Sector can tap into this pool by attending careers fairs, connecting with educational institutions, and utilising trusted job boards for graduates. In effect, by simplifying the recruitment process, the Public Sector can save time and valuable resources.

 

Final Thoughts

Overall, there is a host of advantages to employing graduates in the Public Sector. Graduates represent the future of the UK’s workforce. They have a huge amount to offer and there’s no shortage of graduates looking for work. Furthermore, they are the most capable of adapting to the dynamic landscape of the Public Sector and can bring about change through innovation. Finally, they can offer a fresh perspective.

Interested in finding out more? Our website has a wealth of resources on the benefits of recruiting graduates and tips for attracting graduates. Be sure to also check out our services page for information on advertising on our specialist Graduate and Student jobs board, creating a company profile, and more.

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