Graduates less vulnerable in recession, but inequalities persist
A new report, What do graduates do? 2022 by 蘑菇视频黄片 at Jisc reveals the resilience and adaptability of UK graduates during a recession
Key findings
- The graduate labour market rapidly rebounded from COVID-19 with just 4.2% of 2020 graduates unemployed 15 months later.
- Inequalities persist as white graduates with a first-class degree were most likely to be in full-time employment.
- Three-quarters of working 2020 graduates were in professional-level employment - more than the previous cohort.
Graduates in this edition of What do graduates do? left university during the COVID-19 pandemic when significant restrictions were in place and job vacancies reached bottom in June 2020, running at around 39% of pre-pandemic levels (ONS).
Despite the severity of the labour market that they graduated into, HESA鈥檚 Graduate Outcomes data shows that 15 months later, more 2020 graduates were employed or studying than the previous year. While 80% were in employment (including 10.9% who were working and studying), 9.3% had embarked solely on further study and just 4.2% were unemployed. This is not dissimilar to the figures we might expect for a 'normal' year.
This graduate cohort was more likely to be in professional-level employment than their peers a year previously with 74% of working graduates in professional-level employment after 15 months. This proportion increased to 95% among those who had gained their degree as part of an apprenticeship. All professional-level roles saw increases in entry.
Self-employment had been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, but What do graduates do? shows that nearly one in ten of the employed graduates were either self-employed or actively working towards self-employment.
The report reveals that the graduate labour market is not a homogenous group and that there are inequalities in employment outcomes.
White graduates were more likely to be in employment (70%) and professional-level roles (74%) 15 months after graduation than their black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) counterparts - 65% and 72% respectively.
Graduates with a first-class degree were most likely to be in full-time employment (71%) than those with a 2:1 (67%), 2:2 (67%) or Third (69%). This is despite the Institute of Student Employers reporting that the number of employers using degree results as minimum entry criteria is in decline.
蘑菇视频黄片' senior consultant for labour market intelligence at Jisc, Charlie Ball said, 'This demonstrates how employable, resilient and adaptable UK graduates are, and how rapidly the graduate labour market rebounded from COVID-19. Even in a pandemic that locked down the UK economy, the large majority of new graduates got jobs, and good jobs at that. As we expect the recession to continue well into next year, there is every reason to believe that most graduates will get good jobs.
'In the last recession, the graduate labour market was, by some distance, the least affected part of the labour market. But, recessions exacerbate disadvantage. We are already starting behind and we need to work harder to ensure that all graduates have equal chances regardless of their backgrounds or characteristics.'
What do graduates do? 2022 report and further analysis is available on 蘑菇视频黄片 Luminate.
Media enquiries
Media enquiries, interviews and a preview of the report: Clare Tregaskis, 蘑菇视频黄片 and Jisc Student Services,听clare.tregaskis@jisc.ac.uk, 07792 429227
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