A new study by High Fliers Research on the graduate recruitment market says that almost half of employers now expect to recruit more graduates in 2010.

We know that job searching over the last 1-2 years has been tough, but you can feel validated in knowing that the difficulties you've been having in getting a job might not be down to you not being suitable or good enough for the jobs available in your chosen career.

High Fliers reports that during the recruitment rounds in 2008 and 2009, the country’s top employers planned to hire over 40,000 new graduates – but almost 10,000 posts were cut or left unfilled. In addition, figures from the Office of National Statistics suggest that in November 2009 more than 100,000 graduates under the age of 25 were out of work.

The researchers also heard from graduates too, and while more than 60% have very little confidence in the job market picking up this year, many also said that they really wish they had started job-hunting earlier and were better prepared.

The total number of graduate vacancies is set to increase in 2010, according to High Fliers, but over a quarter of this year’s entry-level positions have already been filled – either by 2009 graduates who received deferred job offers or by students who’ve done previous work experience with employers – and therefore are not open to students from the ‘Class of 2010’.

So what can you do about this? The answer is to step up your game. While this report might sound dull, there are some important points to note. Jobs are out there and there is one that will be right for you, but preparation and work experience are two things that are definitely key to standing out in the competitive job market.

Brush up on your Presentation skills with this must-have guide