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45% of full-time first degree leavers enter managerial and professional jobs

Gender Destinations of Leavers Graduates Statistics Publication

HESA electronic publication  released today

The HESA electronic publication Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11 is published today. The publication provides detailed results of the DLHE survey, which asks UK and EU domicile graduates what they are doing six months after graduation.

63% of full-time first degree graduates reported that they were in employment only, with a further 8% both working and studying. 16% were in further study only and 9% were unemployed.

Full-time first degree leavers by activity

Full-time first degree leavers by activity 2010/11
Activity Female Male Total Percentage
Employment only 82655 57425 140085 63%
Work and further study 10905 7455 18355 8%
Total in employment 93560 64880 158440 71%
Further study only 19260 16100 35355 16%
Assumed to be unemployed 9760 10860 20620 9%
Other 5735 3895 9630 4%
Total 128310 95735 224045 100%
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures

Employment circumstances

Of those full-time first degree graduates who entered employment (including those both working and studying), 69% were employed in full-time paid work, 22% were employed part-time, 5% were self-employed or freelance and 4% were in voluntary or unpaid work.

The graphic below shows the occupational classifications of full-time first degree leavers who entered employment. The greatest proportions of leavers (45% of all full-time first degree leavers) entered managerial, professional or associated occupations, although those in part-time work were more likely to be in sales or customer services.

Full-time first degree leavers entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation

Full-time first degree leavers entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation 2010/11
Standard Occupational Classification Employed full-time in paid work Employed part-time in paid work Self-employed/freelance Voluntary work/other unpaid work Total in employment
Managers and senior officials 9200 1015 980 140 11335
Professional occupations 34615 2970 975 1055 39610
Associate professional and technical occupations 36045 5900 4575 3060 49575
Administrative and secretarial occupations 9470 3070 90 795 13425
Skilled trades occupations 820 355 245 60 1480
Personal service occupations 5925 3380 220 770 10295
Sales and customer service occupations 8285 12355 55 220 20915
Process, plant and machine operatives 430 255 45 20 755
Elementary occupations 4465 6010 130 115 10720
Not known 195 55 10 60 325
Total 109445 35365 7330 6295 158440
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures

Destinations publication

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11 includes detailed coverage of the DLHE survey results, including analysis of data by mode and level of study completed, further study after graduation, and industrial and occupational classification of employment.

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11 is available as an electronic publication for purchase and immediate download from our website. 

More results of the 2010/11 DLHE survey can be found here.

Notes for editors

  1. Press enquiries should be directed to:
    • Simon Kemp
    • HESA Press Officer
    • 01242 211120
    • [email protected] 
    • 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ.
  2. In the above data 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are calculated on un-rounded numbers.
  3. Details about the HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey can be found on this web page.
  4. The data tables above relate to all UK HE institutions. Figures for the individual nations of the UK are available below [England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland].
  5. Definitions of the terms used in this press release can be found here.
  6. A full list of the occupation codes included in the published grouping can be found here.

Ends

Annex - equivalent tables for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

England

Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in England by activity 2010/11
Activity Female Male Total Percentage
Employment only 67665 48085 115745 62%
Work and further study 8885 6125 15010 8%
Total in employment 76550 54210 130760 71%
Further study only 15775 13050 28825 16%
Assumed to be unemployed 8365 9320 17680 10%
Other 4810 3310 8120 4%
Total 105495 79890 185385 100%
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in England entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation 2010/11
Standard Occupational Classification Employed full-time in paid work Employed part-time in paid work Self-employed/freelance Voluntary work/other unpaid work Total in employment
Managers and senior officials 7925 865 865 125 9785
Professional occupations 27610 2425 830 920 31780
Associate professional and technical occupations 30040 4715 4015 2715 41485
Administrative and secretarial occupations 7920 2535 75 730 11265
Skilled trades occupations 685 290 215 55 1245
Personal service occupations 5065 2725 195 675 8660
Sales and customer service occupations 6875 9820 50 200 16950
Process, plant and machine operatives 335 200 40 20 590
Elementary occupations 3640 4900 115 100 8750
Not known 155 40 10 50 255
Total 90245 28515 6405 5590 130760
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Wales

Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Wales by activity 2010/11
Activity Female Male Total Percentage
Employment only 4985 3265 8250 62%
Work and further study 695 465 1155 9%
Total in employment 5675 3730 9405 70%
Further study only 1215 1040 2255 17%
Assumed to be unemployed 510 635 1140 9%
Other 315 235 550 4%
Total 7720 5635 13355 100%
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Wales entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation 2010/11
Standard Occupational Classification Employed full-time in paid work Employed part-time in paid work Self-employed/freelance Voluntary work/other unpaid work Total in employment
Managers and senior officials 390 40 45 5 475
Professional occupations 1715 190 55 45 2005
Associate professional and technical occupations 2225 430 220 160 3035
Administrative and secretarial occupations 560 220 5 30 820
Skilled trades occupations 65 25 10 5 105
Personal service occupations 410 250 10 50 720
Sales and customer service occupations 490 840 0 10 1345
Process, plant and machine operatives 35 25 0 0 60
Elementary occupations 325 485 5 10 830
Not known 5 0 5 5 15
Total 6215 2510 355 325 9405
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Scotland

Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Scotland by activity 2010/11
Activity Female Male Total Percentage
Employment only 7570 4725 12295 63%
Work and further study 960 645 1605 8%
Total in employment 8530 5365 13900 72%
Further study only 1840 1635 3475 18%
Assumed to be unemployed 615 660 1280 7%
Other 460 280 740 4%
Total 11450 7940 19390 100%
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Scotland entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation 2010/11
Standard Occupational Classification Employed full-time in paid work Employed part-time in paid work Self-employed/freelance Voluntary work/other unpaid work Total in employment
Managers and senior officials 720 85 60 5 875
Professional occupations 4100 220 80 70 4465
Associate professional and technical occupations 2870 620 310 155 3955
Administrative and secretarial occupations 750 255 5 25 1040
Skilled trades occupations 65 30 15 5 115
Personal service occupations 315 280 20 40 650
Sales and customer service occupations 665 1055 5 10 1730
Process, plant and machine operatives 50 30 5 0 85
Elementary occupations 440 485 5 5 935
Not known 30 15 0 5 50
Total 10000 3075 505 320 13900
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Northern Ireland

Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Northern Ireland by activity 2010/11
Activity Female Male Total Percentage
Employment only 2435 1355 3790 64%
Work and further study 365 220 585 10%
Total in employment 2800 1575 4375 74%
Further study only 425 375 800 14%
Assumed to be unemployed 270 245 520 9%
Other 145 70 215 4%
Total 3645 2270 5910 100%
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
Full-time first degree leavers from HEIs in Northern Ireland entering employment by employment circumstances and occupation 2010/11
Standard Occupational Classification Employed full-time in paid work Employed part-time in paid work Self-employed/freelance Voluntary work/other unpaid work Total in employment
Managers and senior officials 165 25 10 0 205
Professional occupations 1200 135 15 20 1365
Associate professional and technical occupations 910 135 30 25 1100
Administrative and secretarial occupations 235 60 5 5 300
Skilled trades occupations 5 5 0 0 15
Personal service occupations 135 125 0 10 270
Sales and customer service occupations 255 635 0 0 890
Process, plant and machine operatives 15 0 0 0 15
Elementary occupations 65 145 0 0 210
Not known 5 0 0 0 5
Total 2985 1260 65 60 4375
Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
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