The official figures show that employment has fallen from 68% to 67% and that unemployment has risen from 5% to 6%. The unemployment figures mark the first rise since HESA records began in 1994/95. The unemployment rate had been at 5% since 1997/98. The highest rate of unemployment was amongst graduates who qualified with first degrees (BA, BSc, etc) and who were living in the UK before they started their studies.
Breaking the employment figures down further shows that 64% gained employment within the UK and 3% found employment overseas. Last year 4% of graduates were in overseas employment.
The increased unemployment rate has been mitigated somewhat by the report finding that the numbers continuing on to further study or training have increased from 19% last year to 20% in 2001/02.
Women from the UK were most likely to find employment, particularly those at other undergraduate level (HE Diplomas and Certificates etc.) with 67% finding a job in the UK. Women with first degree qualifications who were from the UK were the most likely to go on to study or train further with 49% doing so. At postgraduate level further study would consist of postgraduate diploma and certificate courses (including PGCE's).
The survey also examined the occupations and industries that graduates work in after leaving higher education. The majority of first degree students found employment in professional occupations, whilst relatively few took on plant and machine operative positions. There was a fairly close parity between the numbers of males and females entering the various occupation groups although 19% of women entered clerical and secretarial positions compared with only 15% of men.
When looking at the industries that first degree graduates were employed in, the property development, renting, business & research activities sector proved to be the most popular choice. Two sectors, electricity, gas & water supply and financial activities, stand out as employing large proportions of the graduates that they recruited in clerical and secretarial posts at 39% and 45% respectively.
