An exodus of a third of council staff workers will create a gap for graduate jobseekers.

A report by the New Local Government Network found many councils could be left understaffed as authorities are set to lose significantly higher proportions of senior managers over the next decade compared to other areas of the public sector.

Around a third are set to retire, creating opportunities for graduates at lower levels while other move up, but currently few graduates want a career in local government.

Focus groups of graduates questioned by the NLGN highlighted prejudices held by many against careers in local government, and it claims there needs to be more to shed the dowdy image of working in government.

The think tank also argues the government should set up a “National Governing Britain Fast Track” graduate recruitment scheme for the entire public service and scrap the current system of having separate schemes for local and central Government. This would allow graduates to gain experience of working in both Whitehall and local government.

Author of the report, Nigel Keohane said: “Our focus group research reveals a depressingly negative impression of working in local government. However, analysis shows that approaches to attracting talent too often reinforce negative perceptions.

"Jobs in local government are not marketed to an audience of the most talented but to a pre-defined catchment; mechanisms for recruitment exacerbate this trend. Jobs are not ‘sold’ for what they actually do, for their contribution to society or for the career development opportunities they offer. Yet, these are the incentives most attractive to potential recruits. A wide range of excellent benefits and an enviable pension are hardly ever marketed, even for senior posts”.