According to the latest survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), female graduates are less likely to apply but more likely to land a job than men.

AGR asked graduate recruiters about the diversity of their applicants as well as their hires. Its Diversity and Inclusion report published today reveals that improving the gender diversity of graduate programmes is largely a challenge of attracting women in the first place.

The survey showed that despite women making up 54% of the student population, only 47% apply to graduate schemes. However, when women do apply they are relatively more successful at getting job offers than men, averaging 49% of hires.

According to the survey, women were consistently more successful in the selection process regardless of which industry they applied to. If women do apply for graduate programmes they have a better chance than men of getting through to the final stages.

The gender diversity challenge varies by sector. The survey shows that while IT and engineering firms average 27% and 25% of female hires respectively, these sectors are doing relatively well compared with the 17% and 15% of female students studying those subjects. Law firms, which average 58% of female hires, still have a gender diversity challenge, as 63% of legal students are women.

“Despite investment to develop a more diverse graduate workforce, there remain considerable barriers,” Stephen Isherwood, chief executive at the AGR said. “Improving gender diversity is less about changing selection processes and is largely an attraction challenge. Many female students don’t apply for the top programmes when they should.

AGR states that employer investment is helping to address the gender imbalance. Three quarters of the survey respondents had a diversity strategy in place and the majority placed gender as their highest priority when compared to other forms of diversity. Over half of sectors had increased their gender diversity year-on-year, with construction firms increasing the share of women hires by 3% and engineering firms by 4%.

Employers reported that student perceptions of their industry was one of their greatest challenges in attracting a more diverse workforce and 83% called for sector-wide investment to tackle the gender issue.

“We know women are hugely successful in the selection process, more so than, men. We just need them to realise it. We need to boost confidence and encourage more female graduates to reach their potential,” Isherwood said.