Positive values, good working conditions and job security are factors that lifted the NSW government to the top of a list of most in-demand employers among university graduates, ranking it above banks, consultancies and IT companies.

The NSW government commanded 18 per cent of all applications in a group of more than 70,000 students, putting it ahead of Westpac and Deloitte at 16 per cent and well ahead of one-time employment magnets such as Macquarie Bank and technology company IBM.