University students hoping to get pharmaceutical jobs may need to boost their skills after a study found many are worried about their career prospects.
High Fliers Research carried out a study to gauge the level of optimism among students and found 45 per cent believe their career prospects are limited.
This was reflected in the average amount they expect to earn in their first graduate job, which was 3.1 per cent lower than it had been two years earlier.
Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, commented: "Competition for graduate jobs has never been fiercer."
This could encourage many jobseekers to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills to attract employers, particularly those in highly specialised areas such as the pharmaceutical industry.
Despite the mood among students, universities and science minister David Willetts insisted there is "enormous" value in higher education.
However, he admitted that the jobs market is still "very tough" for young people.