It's no secret that the graduate job market leaves a lot to be desired at the present moment in time, but some observers of a recent study which starkly portrayed this feeling of doom and gloom have questioned the application of the research behind it.
The study at hand was published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), claiming that 52% of new graduates from 2009/10 are either out of work or unemployed. This paints a stark picture even in the current climate of economic downturn. However, in response to the study, Charlie Ball of the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) suggested that the outlook was not as bleak as it would initially seem.
Firstly, Ball observes that the statistics are based upon a measure of unemployment immediately following graduation against unemployment six months later. In itself, this lessens the severity of the study's results; though employment within the immediate period following the completion of a degree would be preferable for most, the lack of it within this early period is for many graduates simply the first stage of the process of making sure they get the job they really desire. After all, not everybody leaves university certain of what it is they want to do next.
Furthermore, the report seeks to assert a certain number of jobs which do not require a degree, and apportions these to the number of those said to be unemployed. For many graduates, such "stop-gap" jobs can provide invaluable income and experience that facilitate and enhance their search for a career elsewhere, and these positions cannot be dismissed.
Ball concludes that while the graduate recruitment market is unquestionably suffering on account of the recession, reports such as that by the CEBR can be misleading. For the graduate, this makes for promising news, as the slew of negative reporting about possible future prospects can only serve to make leaving university an even more daunting process. What graduates need to make sure of is that rather than being deterred by this negative press, they take advantage of the opportunity to make sure they really stand out.
Jon, GRB Journalist
