Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Decline in graduate job opportunities", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 20 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj.1999.02220dab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Decline in graduate job opportunities
Keywords: Graduates, Careers, Temporary workers
A report published by the Institute for Employment Studies suggests that many graduates leaving universities are failing to get what they regard as a ‘‘proper’’ job. In 1998, one in three graduates went into fixed term or temporary appointments, while many of those moving into permanent jobs went into lower level jobs and were not using their graduate skills. Many are taking over a year; sometimes up to three years to find their way into permanent jobs and careers. Computer science, engineering and maths graduates are the most likely to move quickly into high level managerial, professional or technical jobs. Along with those with degrees in medicine and related subjects or education, they record the lowest unemployment rates. Typically, annual starting salaries are in the range of £10-£15,000 rising to around £16-£17,000 per annum after three years.
Over 400,000 students graduated in 1998. This is more than double the numbers of a decade ago. This number is expected to remain stable for the next three years. Women now form the majority of entrants to first degrees but are still underrepresented on maths, physical science, engineering and technology courses. More than one in three of students work while studying. Although reliable estimates of debt levels are not available, a student who has neither worked nor received parental or other financial support during term time is believed to graduate with debts of up to £5,000.
Over the longer term, the number of managerial, professional, technical and high level jobs is expected to grow and will lead to a rising demand for graduates. However, it is unlikely that this growth will be sufficient to absorb the increased numbers graduating.
A copy of the IES Annual Graduate Review 1998-1999: The Key Facts by R. Fearson, S. Ferryman, H. Connor, N. Jagger and J. Aston, is available from The Institute for Employment Studies, Mantell Building, Falmer, Brighton. BNI 9RF (Tel: 01273 686751) priced £27.50.