PwC expects 30,000 applicants for 1,200 graduate roles

PwC's GRADUATE scheme is expected to attract more than 30,000 applications for 1,200 places, its chairman has claimed.

Ian Powell told the Telegraph that the firm was receiving more than 200 applications a day. "It's incredible. One of the big issues we face is that we could end up with 30,000 applications for just 1,200 places," he said.

This represents a 50% increase on its 2011 applications, Powell added.

"We'll interview getting on for about 7,000 really which is a massive effort. That means you're eliminating a lot of people on paper," he said.

"So what I'm fearful of is we lose some diversity. And what I mean by this is of background, of experience, coming into the firm." The firm will continue with its "diversity of admission", he added, "otherwise we'll be irrelevant in 15 years time because we'll have recruited from a stereotypical background."

The Reed Job Index, published today, suggests that there has been a 44% increase in demand for qualified accountants since December 2009.