Graduates looking for jobs have been told to find local jobs first to get on the career ladder.
Data has suggested competition for graduate jobs is at a record high with some big, recognised UK firms reducing the number of places on graduate schemes.
But employers and a graduate recruitment expert have reassured university leavers that jobs are available, just maybe not in the UK's major cities.
UK government forecasts suggest the UK workforce will need 11 million extra graduates by 2035.
One company at the graduate recruitment fair is construction firm Knights Brown and they have two recent starters who are working on energy projects near their home in south Wales.
"For me, it's more being around my family and friends," said 22-year-old Neave Davies who is working near her home town in Caerphilly county after graduating as an engineer at Swansea University.
"After working away in university, I really wanted to come back home and stay within Caerphilly and also be able to build things at home and help the communities that I'm also a part of.
"My grandpa was always a builder, so I've always really enjoyed the building aspects and being outside, and through school I just enjoyed maths and physics."
She works alongside quantity surveyor Jack Little, who combined an apprenticeship with a degree at the University of South Wales and now "luckily" works five minutes from his house.
"You can work on projects that you can relate to, and come to work and feel proud knowing you're delivering something for the community and everyone will benefit from, and you can say I had something to do with that job right there," he said.