The number of graduate jobs is expected to rise by more than 10%, according to a leading recruitment association.

It follows years of tough times for university leavers, with around 85 applicants fighting over each major job opportunity as recently as last year.

A leading Brighton recruiter welcomed the news as it launched a search to appoint eight trainees this summer.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of Graduate Bureau of Recruitment (GRB), said the forecast could mean a shift from graduates fighting over jobs, to employers fighting over graduates.

He said: “Recent times have been hard for every jobseeker, not just university graduates, but this is showing things are about to change.

“Whilst this is welcome news, GRB is advising employers to get in early. This new confidence shows the war for talent is back on.

“Even for FTSE100 firms with large budgets and resources, meeting their recruitment targets is still challenging, with many experiencing a shortfall.

“For every other company serious about recruiting high-calibre graduates, the time to strike is now.”

The survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) predicted a 10.5% increase in entry level jobs in 2014, with openings in IT and telecoms expected to rise by 40%.

In comparison the number of vacancies rose by 4% in 2013.

Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of AGR, said: “What this doesn’t mean, however, is that graduates should be any less focused on their career search.

“We know that, even through the darkest days of the recession, our members reported unfilled vacancies because they couldn’t find graduates with the right mix of skills and attributes.

“Graduates need to think carefully about their applications and ensure they understand what a potential employer is looking for.”

Sam Rhodes, the University of Brighton’s head of careers, said: “This will provide even more opportunities for our graduates – this is good news.”

More than 89% of 2011/12 Brighton graduates were in employment or study within six months, the university said.

It is also part-funding 60 paid internships, including 20 with Santander, to help graduates gain a foothold in the employment market.