JUNIOR and trainee job vacancies are on the rise.

Recruitment consultants AP Group said it would benefit local students, new graduates returning to the island and school leavers eager to begin their career. But if the trend continues, there could be a shortage of junior staff if A-level pupils choose to further their studies at university and if this year’s graduates do not all return.

AP Personnel senior manager Steve Gibson said organisations were becoming more aware of the importance of succession planning and promoting from within, giving junior staff excellent career prospects.

‘More organisations are putting in place graduate trainee programmes to help identify tomorrow’s business leaders.’

But that rise is not only significant in Guernsey’s financial sector. Commercial business is also increasing and so, in turn, is the number of vacancies.

AP Commercial senior manager Richard Clarke said vacancies were spread across a diverse employment market within organisations that varied greatly in size

and focus, giving candidates a wide variety of careers to consider. And graduate schemes are not exclusive to the finance sector.

‘A number of commercial organisations offer graduate training programmes and some even run bursary schemes to attract candidates looking for a company that will offer them a career path,’ said Mr Clark.