Second longitudinal survey of graduate destinations
Field work begins this month on the Higher Education Statistics Agency's second survey to track the careers of graduates three and a half years after they left higher education. Will the recent credit crunch have affected the job prospects of recent graduates, or even boosted the numbers going into further study?
The first Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Longitudinal survey was carried out in November 2006 and contacted a sample of leavers who graduated in 2002/03. The same cohort had previously been surveyed 6 months after graduation. The table below shows the difference in employment circumstances for those graduates over the intervening three years:
|
2002/03 graduate cohort |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
After 6 months |
After 3.5 years |
|
Full-time paid work only (including self-employed) |
60% |
74% |
|
Further study only |
14% |
5% |
|
Work and study |
11% |
9% |
|
Assumed to be unemployed |
6% |
2% |
This November's survey will be sent to a sample of leavers who graduated in 2004/05. Six months after they graduated their pattern of destinations was very similar to that of the 2002/03 cohort at the same point. Will the recession affect the longer term prospects of this cohort? The new survey should provide some interesting answers...
|
2004/05 graduate cohort |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
After 6 months |
After 3.5 years |
|
Full-time paid work only (including self-employed) |
60% |
? |
|
Further study only |
14% |
|
|
Work and study |
11% |
|
|
Assumed to be unemployed |
6% |
|
As well as asking about graduates' activities the survey also asks about their satisfaction with their careers so far. 85% of the 2002/03 graduate cohort were, after three and a half years, either ‘very satisfied' or ‘fairly satisfied' with their careers to date. Will the 2004/05 cohort feel the same way?
The survey is being carried out by IFF Research Ltd on behalf of HESA, with help from all Higher Education institutions in the UK. The information provided will give current and future students an insight into possible careers, show evidence of the benefit of higher education to individuals and society at large, and provide input to government policy development.
The full report of the first DLHE Longitudinal survey is available here
Notes for Editors
Ends
- Press enquiries should be directed to:
- Simon Kemp
- HESA Press Officer
- 01242 211120
- [email protected]
- 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ.
- HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) is the UK's central source for the collection and dissemination of statistics about Higher Education.
- IFF Research Ltd is an independent research agency specialising in work in the learning and skills arena.
- Field work will continue until March 2009 and results will be available in the summer
- HESA cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties.
