Tesco reports a 61% increase in its graduate applications this year, but is still recruiting university leavers for 15 of its graduate schemes.

Applications for entry for this year's graduate schemes closed in September 2008, but the retailer is continuing to offer graduate placements on a continuous recruitment cycle in its commercial divisions, including buying and merchandising.

Hayley Tatum, UK operations personnel director at Tesco, said: "At Tesco we are very aware the recent economic climate is having a detrimental effect upon today's graduates and the talent of the future. We have always identified the skills and opportunities graduates bring and for this reason we have remained committed to our graduate recruitment process.

"In recent research conducted by Tesco we highlighted the earning potential for a career in retail and we encourage today's graduates to consider all options when leaving university. We witnessed incredible demand for graduate schemes this year and places had to be increased for many."