Graduate unemployment has risen for the first time in a decade.

The computer industry downturn accounted for most of the 0.8 per cent rise from 5.5 per cent in 2000 to 6.3 per cent in 2001, according to data collected from universities.

The National Union of Students said the rise was worrying given that graduates were leaving university in a "perilous"

financial situation, with debts averaging £12,000.

The figures were compiled for the latest What Do Graduates Do?

report by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (CSU) and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

It showed 67.7 per cent of graduates found a job within six months of leaving university while almost a fifth, 18.4 per cent, opted to do further study.

More than a third of graduates in work were not in jobs that required a degree.

People with degrees in civil engineering and accountancy were among those with the best chance of finding work - 79.2 per cent and 78.2 per cent respectively got jobs within six months.

Information technology graduate employment tumbled 7.3 per cent from 79.9 per cent to 72.6 per cent last year.

Media studies graduates were more employable, 74.1 per cent of those who finished university in 2001 got a job.

CSU chief executive Mike Hill said: "We predicted last year graduate unemployment had levelled out and was unlikely to dip any lower.

"This current increase follows two years where graduate unemployment remained at an all-time low and is still a long way from the highs of 8.2 per cent five years ago and about 12 per cent ten years ago."