Many graduates outside full-time employment

A recent survey has revealed that nearly 28 per cent of university graduates who completed their course in 2007 are yet to find full-time employment.

The figures, compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and based on a sample of 49,065 graduates who left university in 2007, could raise concerns amongst current and potential students regarding their future.

The survey suggested that 21 per cent of the 2007 graduates were either working part-time or back in education, whilst 3.6 per cent said they were unemployed and a further 3.5 per cent responded as ‘other’.

Sally Hunt, General Secretary for the University and College Union commented on the results, stating: “It is worrying that the number of graduates assumed to be unemployed has risen.”

Miss Hunt also highlighted the difficulties of finding a job in the current market particularly for those who have recently graduated, and said that students “deserve better prospects”.

The results of the survey have come at a time of large-scale cuts to university funding as well as increasing tuition fees.

However, Miss Hunt did reassure prospective students that entering higher education would ultimately be beneficial, as countries that place emphasis on graduates will “prosper in the long run”.

For graduates already in full-time employment the numbers looked more positive: 85.4 per cent of those questioned who had entered long-term employment since graduating said their qualification had been helpful or necessary in getting them into their current position. In addition, 76.5 per cent said that university had prepared them well for their career.