What Do Graduates Do 2023

WHAT DO
GRADUATES
DO?
2023
Insights and analysis from the UK’s largest
higher education survey Prospects is now part of Jisc
Foreword
It is always informative to read What do The Graduate Outcomes survey gives us one
graduates do? and this year is no exception. way of measuring graduate success. However,
Graduate Outcomes data for the 2019/20 it is ultimately the graduates themselves who
graduating class shows what AGCAS members should decide if their university experience has
and other experts had been expecting: been valuable. Finding new ways to gather
employment rates were similar to ‘normal’ and respond to definitions of graduate success
years, and slightly better than the previous and using it to inform the support careers
cohort. There currently appears to be real services provide is an important focus for the
competition for talent, although the graduate careers and employability sector. With an
labour market is not homogenous and there increase in graduates starting businesses, we
are significant regional and sector variations. are seeing more careers services supporting
enterprise and entrepreneurship. The
Addressing regional inequalities is a key professionals that work in university careers
strategic area for AGCAS, and university services are responsive and adaptable, using
careers services are the gatekeepers to their knowledge and skills to help students and
regional labour market information and graduates make informed choices in this ‘post
knowledge of local skills shortages. AGCAS pandemic’ world.
member careers and employability experts are
leading on essential coordinated work in their I know that I will be returning to this edition
areas to generate graduate-level roles. You of What Do Graduates Do? repeatedly
can read more about this work from AGCAS throughout the year, I hope that it provides
President-elect Paul Gratrick. you with information that will inform your
work with students and graduates.
Sadly, we have seen no improvement in
reducing inequality in outcomes for particular Elaine Boyes
groups of students. Despite the commitment Executive director, AGCAS
and innovation from both careers services and
employers, this year’s Graduate Outcomes
data shows that 59.3% of white graduates
were in full-time employment 15 months after
graduation compared with 51.3% of BAME
graduates. These headline figures disguise a
more complex picture. As the AGCAS Equality,
Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group note,
employability outcome gaps will not be closed
by focusing on ethnicity in isolation.
What do graduates do? 2023

Introduction What’s inside
p.1 Graduate labour market overview Humanities
What do graduates do? is an essential resource for anyone wanting to understand the p.3 First-degree graduates p.39 Overview
graduate labour market and outcomes for UK first-degree graduates 15 months after p.4 Regional overview p.40 English literature
finishing university. It takes an in-depth look at HESA’s Graduate Outcomes survey, which
Expert insights
p.41 English
provides a comprehensive picture of graduate activity post-graduation.
p.42 History
p.7 Untapped potential: graduate voice and the p.43 Languages
value of HE
We open with an overview of the graduate labour Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education p.44 Philosophy

p.9 Tackling inequalities in graduate
Science
market by Jisc’s senior consultant for labour (DHLE), due to the change in methodology.
market intelligence, Charlie Ball, who discusses employment outcomes
the destinations of those graduating into a This edition of What do graduates do? is also the p.10 Graduate Outcomes and the future world of work
difficult environment with significant COVID-19 first to use the Higher Education Classification of p.46 Overview
p.12 How to respond to graduate migration patterns
restrictions in place. Subjects (HECoS), and therefore the subject data p.47 Biology
p.13 Graduate recruitment through the pandemic
cannot be compared to previous editions, which p.48 Chemistry
Business and administrative studies

This is followed by a breakdown of graduate used the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) to p.49 Physical and geographical sciences
destinations by degree subject area, with classify academic subjects.
p.50 Physics
p.51 Sports science
details of the industries and occupations these p.15 Overview
graduates entered. The essential context Contributors from Prospects (part of Jisc) and

p.16 Economics
Social sciences
for the data is delivered through expert AGCAS have collaborated to create the best
p.17 Finance and accountancy
insights from AGCAS-member careers and source of information about graduates and their
employability professionals. employment outcomes, and the information p.18 Business and management studies
p.53 Overview
will be valuable for the next generation of p.19 Hospitality, leisure, tourism and transport
Graduate destination surveys are a longstanding graduates who wish to understand the nature of p.54 Geography
p.20 Marketing

method of assessing employment trends. The the labour market they are preparing to enter, as p.55 Law
Creative arts
Graduate Outcomes survey takes place 15 well as anyone who supports them in achieving p.56 Psychology
months after graduation, and the most recent their goals. p.57 Sociology
edition received 191,980 responses from UK- p.22 Overview
p.58 Politics

domiciled first-degree graduates who completed Laura Greaves, editor p.24 Art
their studies in 2019/20. p.59 Education

p.25 Design
Appendix
Partners:
Data from the Graduate Outcomes survey cannot p.26 Media studies
be compared with data from its predecessor, p.27 Performing arts
p.61 Data explained
p.28 Cinematics and photography
p.64 References
Technology, engineering and maths

WHAT DO GRADUATES DO? 2023 is produced by Prospects (part of Jisc) and AGCAS.
Jisc www.jisc.ac.uk · Charlie Ball, Senior consultant: labour market intelligence / Laura Greaves, Information analyst / Micha-Shannon Smith, Assistant
information analyst / Dan Mason, Editorial manager. AGCAS www.agcas.org.uk · Gemma Green, Head of external relations. p.30 Overview
©Jisc/AGCAS 2022. Material from this publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided What do graduates do? is acknowledged. p.31 Computer science
If material is required for commercial use, please contact Prospects in the ﬁrst instance.
p.32 Mathematics
Published by Jisc, 4 Portwall Lane, Bristol BS1 6NB · 0161 277 5200 · contact@luminate.prospects.ac.uk · Company registration no. 09316933 (England). p.33 Architecture and building
Prospects are the experts in graduate careers. We help to guide students and graduates to a bright future with unrivalled information, advice and p.34 Civil engineering
opportunities. We provide a market-leading portfolio of graduate career and postgraduate study recruitment options. We use our unique insight into
what graduates do, where they go and what their motivations are to guide and inspire career choices throughout the student journey. Prospects is part
p.35 Electrical and electronic engineering
of Jisc, the UK’s technology solutions organisation for higher and further education. Jisc is funded by the UK higher and further education and research p.36 Mechanical engineering
funding bodies and member institutions. Our established position in the sector, along with an unparalleled knowledge of graduate careers helps us to
manage a range of key initiatives within higher education. p.37 Chemical engineering

Graduate labour market overview Even in a pandemic the large
majority of new graduates got
good jobs. There is no reason
to believe that the coming
Jisc’s senior consultant for labour market intelligence, Charlie Ball, puts the employment period of economic difficulty
outcomes of 2019/20 graduates into the uniquely challenging context of pandemic will disrupt that.
lockdowns and labour shortages
This edition of What do graduates do? is These dates are highly important. Graduates in reached bottom in June 2020 with vacancies As many as 80% of the cohort were employed
a particularly significant one in our goal of this edition left university during the COVID-19 running at around 39% of pre-pandemic levels.4 either full time (with or without further study), or
understanding the nature and shape of pandemic, and during the summer significant However, there were already signs that the part time, with a small number working unpaid
the UK graduate labour market. It covers restrictions were in place throughout the country graduate labour market might escape the worst of or on a voluntary basis. One fifth were in further
graduates who left university in the 2019/20 and with specific extra restrictions in certain parts of the effects.5 study, either solely or alongside work, and Masters
academic year, and who were surveyed using the country, such as Scotland and parts of the North qualifications remained the most common
HESA’s Graduate Outcomes survey in 2021, and Midlands of England.1 By the time that these graduates were surveyed, it qualification for this group.
so 15 months after graduation. had become clear that the labour market in general,
At this point, the labour market was very difficult. and the graduate labour market in particular, had Just 5.8% were unemployed at the time of the
On 8 July 2020, the government released its Plan for outperformed not merely the worst predictions, but survey, but 28% had a job or, less commonly,
Jobs.2 Crucial measures included: also most of the more optimistic ones. a course of study, lined up to go to and so only
4.2% of the cohort were unemployed and did not
▪ a one-off payment of £1,000 to UK employers The large majority of restrictions had been removed have something to go to within a month. This is
for every furloughed employee earning above some time previously, job vacancy levels returned not dissimilar to the figures we might expect for a
£520 per month who remained continuously to pre-pandemic levels in May 2021, and had been ‘normal’ year and demonstrates the employability,
employed through to the end of January 2021 comfortably outperforming that level ever since. resilience and adaptability of UK graduates, and
▪ a new Kickstart Scheme, to create six-month By December 2021, vacancies were 20 to 30% how rapidly the graduate labour market had
work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 above pre-pandemic levels, all graduate recruitment rebounded from COVID.
on Universal Credit and deemed to be at risk of sectors (with the exception of energy and law) had
long-term unemployment vacancies above pre-pandemic levels and had had Of those who were working, 67% were in
them for some time, and the narrative switched permanent, full-time roles and another 15% were
▪ an additional £32million funding over the next on fixed term contracts - note that the latter is very
from job losses to occupational shortages and
two years for the National Careers Service common among professionals on qualifying years,
recruitment difficulties.6
▪ £2,000 to employers in England for each new such as junior doctors, and should not be seen as
apprentice they hired aged under age 25, and a This is the unique context into which this cohort necessarily a sign of insecure employment.
£1,500 payment for each new apprentice they graduated. Having entered some of the most difficult
hired aged 25 and over. labour market conditions for new graduates in living Self-employment had been hit particularly
memory, the market improved rapidly and vigorously hard by the pandemic, but around 8% of the
This demonstrates the severity of the issues in the and so outcomes for this cohort after 15 months employed cohort were either self-employed
labour market. By the end of June 2020, nearly were slightly better than their peers from the previous or actively working towards self-employment,
half a million people had lost their jobs, and the year, who had graduated into a relatively normal and this will be monitored over time to see if
number of people in the workforce continued to labour market but who were surveyed during severe COVID has had any long-term effect on the self-
fall throughout 2020.3 Job vacancies, meanwhile, pandemic restrictions. employed graduate community.

1
Graduate labour market overview 5 data points you may have missed
■ Four fifths (79%) of first-degree graduates

with disabilities found full or part-time
employment 15 months after graduation
Location of employment and hybrid working after 15 months. The occupations that saw the All of these roles are considered to be at with the majority (71%) working in
greatest increases in employment between the professional level. professional-level jobs. In addition, 63% of
two years were: those in employment said they are utilising
Arguably one of the most significant long-term
the skills they learnt during their studies.
effects of the COVID pandemic has been the The largest fallers were retail assistants (down
rapid adoption of hybrid working. ▪ ‘other nursing professionals’, a group 535), basic customer service workers (down 455), ■ 95% of 2019/20 first degree graduates
including non-hospital nurses, up 860 care home workers, an occupation that saw a who had done an apprenticeship were in
By Spring 2022, around 38% of working adults ▪ marketing professions, up 720 large rise during the pandemic (down 410), bank professional-level employment 15 months
reported working from home for some time clerks, down 280, and waiters and waitresses, after graduation, with 42% working as
▪ graphic designers, an occupation that had down 240. None of these roles are considered to
during the previous week7, but it was also clear engineering and IT professionals.
been hit hard by the pandemic but recovered be professional-level jobs.
from the data that hybrid working was much
very rapidly, up 445 ■ UK graduates from low participation
more common among high earners, the more
qualified and particularly in sectors such as IT ▪ laboratory technicians, an occupation with neighbourhoods were just as likely to
Looking forward, the economic signals are be in full-time employment 15 months
and business services. In short, hybrid working is particular recruitment and retention issues,
up 440 not good. Inflation has increased rapidly and after graduation as those from high
much more common among graduates than non-
to levels not seen for many years, and the participation neighbourhoods. However,
graduates and it has become the norm for many
▪ teaching professionals not elsewhere expectation is that it will rise significantly graduates from neighbourhoods with the
graduate employees. At present, this tendency is
classified, (a group including peripatetic further. Energy bills have skyrocketed. The highest level of participation were slightly
not very clear in the data for new qualifiers.
teachers of subjects like languages, drama or country looks set to enter a very difficult more likely to find professional-level jobs
music), up 430. period, but the labour market, particularly for (77%) than those from neighbourhoods
The data on location of employment is not very graduates, remains very strong at the time of within the first (70%), second (71%), third
dissimilar to pre-pandemic figures. London is the writing, and it looks as if we head into these (72%) and fourth (73%) quintiles.
most important location but the large majority much choppier waters with a labour shortage.
of graduates do not, and never will, work in the This is quite unusual in itself and makes ■ Those who graduated with First Class
capital - and most of those who do already hail prediction even more difficult than usual. honours (71%) were slightly more likely to
from the city and its neighbouring regions. But be in full-time employment 15 months after
in future, the Graduate Outcomes survey aims to graduation than those with a 2:1 (67%), 2:2
capture not merely where work is based but also But, even in a pandemic that locked down (67%) or Third (69%).
where workers tend to work from, and we will be the UK economy, the large majority of new
able to examine this topic in much more detail. graduates got good jobs. There is no reason ■ White graduates (70%) were more likely
to believe that the coming period of economic to be in employment 15 months after
difficulty, no matter how severe, will disrupt that. graduation than their BAME counterparts
Types of work (65%). White graduates (74%) were also
The last few years have been tremendously
challenging for graduates and those who more likely than BAME graduates (72%) to
This cohort of graduates were more likely to be in support them, but the quality, resilience and be in professional-level employment.
professional-level employment than their peers adaptability of our graduates has helped them
a year previously. As many as 74% of working meet challenges in the past, and we can help Micha-Shannon Smith
graduates were in professional-level employment them meet those that are on their way.

2
First-degree graduates
OUTCOMES FIFTEEN MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION TYPE OF COURSE FOR THOSE IN FURTHER STUDY
5.7% 9.5%
Other Doctorate
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
5.9% MPhil, MRes)
Unemployed, including
those due to start work 57.3% 53.5%
Working full
time in the UK
10.9% Masters
(e.g. MA, MSc)
9.2% Other
Further study
10.6% 12.1%
Working and Professional
studying qualification
11.4% SURVEY RESPONSE: 13.9% TOTAL NUMBER OF

Working part FEMALE 112,165 / MALE 79,645 GRADUATES IN
time in the UK Postgraduate diploma
TOTAL RESPONSES 191,810 or certificate (including FURTHER STUDY 35,710
PGCE/PGDE)
TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL JOBS HELD BY FIRST-DEGREE GRADUATES
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 5.6% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 6.6% Secondary
Other nursing
education teaching
professionals
professionals
Business, HR and finance professionals 11.1% Science professionals 2.7%
2 7
Programmers and
Chartered and
Education professionals 7.7% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 2.5% software development
certified accountants
professionals
3 FIRST-DEGREE
8
Engineering and building professionals 6.1% Childcare, health and education occupations 5.0%
Finance and
GRADUATES
Marketing associate
investment analysts
professionals
Health professionals 16.5% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 7.7% and advisers
4 9
Human resources
Information technology professionals 6.3% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 9.0% Generalist medical
and industrial
practitioners
relations officers
5 10
Legal, social and welfare professionals 5.4% Skilled trades, crafts and other vocational occupations 1.7%
Management
Primary education
consultants and
Managers 3.5% Other occupations 2.6% teaching professionals
business analysts
3
FEMALE 79,050 / MALE 53,740 / TOTAL IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK: 132,795

Regional overview
North East Yorkshire and The Humber
• 2019/20 graduates working here: 3.1%. • 2019/20 graduates working here: 7.3%.
• Share of self-employed graduates: 1.8%. • Share of self-employed graduates: 6.5%.
The data on this page gives an indication of where in the UK graduates from 2019/20 • Graduates working in SMEs: 20.1%. • Graduates working in SMEs: 24.5%.
• 75.6% of employed graduates worked • 19% of graduates working in this region
were employed, which regions saw the highest levels of self-employment, and where jobs full time. stayed there after graduation to work.
in small and medium-sized enterprises of fewer than 250 employees were most prevalent
North West East Midlands

• Share of self-employed graduates: 10.4%. • Share of self-employed graduates: 6%.
• Graduates working in SMEs: 24.7%. • Graduates working in SMEs: 26.9%.
• 16.5% of male education graduates worked • 8.4% of creative arts graduates from this
in this region. region were developing a creative, artistic or
professional portfolio.
West Midlands East of England

• 5.9% of graduates working in this region • Had the highest percentage of graduates
were on a zero-hours contract. returning there after graduation to work
(41%).
Wales South East

• 11.8% of graduates working here had worked • The most popular location of employment
three or more jobs since graduating. for sports and exercise science graduates
(15.4%), followed by London.
South West London

• 11.9% of graduates working here had worked • 48% of graduates working in London were
three or more jobs since graduating. not originally from the area.

4
Regional overview
The data on this page gives an indication of where in the UK graduates from 2019/20
were employed, which regions saw the highest levels of self-employment, and where jobs
in small and medium-sized enterprises of fewer than 250 employees were most prevalent
Northern Ireland Scotland Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man

• 2019/20 graduates working here: 3.2%. • 2019/20 graduates working here: 8.1%. • 2019/20 graduates working here: 0.2%.
• Share of self-employed graduates: 2.3%. • Share of self-employed graduates: 7.4%. • Share of self-employed graduates: 0.4%.
• Graduates working in SMEs: 24.3%. • Graduates working in SMEs: 18.9%. • Graduates working in SMEs: 7.5%.
• The majority of graduates working in this • 74.9% of graduates working here were in a • 11.1% of graduates from this region were in
region were originally domiciled there (96%). professional-level job. further study 15 months after graduation.

5
EXPERT
INSIGHTS
Untapped potential: graduate voice and the value of HE
Mark Stow, director of business engagement, careers & employability at Leeds Beckett
University, and Gemma Green, head of external relations at AGCAS, emphasise the
importance of listening to graduate voices when determining the ‘value’ of higher education
The measures by which the relative success education, as well as providing a contextual
(or failure) of our universities are judged is narrative to influence and stimulate agency
the subject of increasing political scrutiny. within institutions, and to counter the
Many across the sector lament the binary implicit assumptions of value enforced by our
interpretations of relative ‘success’ as metricised system.
crude measures of the ‘value’ of higher
education. Measures such as graduate
To date, although some league table providers
salary and the labelling of occupations
have started to experiment with the use of
as ‘professional-level’ pay little attention
graduate voice data in their metrics, the
to the individual that sits behind
dataset is still relatively underutilised and there
those metrics, nor the context or their
are no immediate plans for it to be drawn
motivations for university study, which are
upon in the regulation of student outcomes
often very personal and subjective.
(in England).1 Nonetheless, analysis of the
2019/20 data still provides a useful insight into
Furthermore, defining the value of a degree the graduate perspective, which can either
by its relative monetary return to the Treasury challenge or re-enforce our perceptions of the
pays little regard to a system in which jobs graduate labour market.
that require a degree can sometimes lead to
careers with relatively modest remuneration
(and this is before we even contemplate the The Graduate Outcomes survey asks graduates
differentiated graduate labour market and to reflect on their activity to date and covers
regional variations of salary). To define value by three key aspects:
salary fundamentally detracts from the social
and cultural value of such pursuits. ▪ The extent to which graduates feel they
are utilising what they learnt during their
With this in mind, it has never been more studies in their current activity.
important to develop a deeper understanding
of graduates’ individual perceptions. ▪ The extent to which graduates perceive their
Understanding the graduate voice is critical current activity as meaningful.
to inform the development of the support ▪ The extent to which graduates feel their
services universities provide, such as bespoke current activity fits with their future plans
and differentiated careers and employability (‘on track’).
EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

7
Untapped potential: graduate voice and the value of HE Understanding the graduate
voice is critical to inform
the development of the
support services universities
Positive representation Variation by student characteristics of universities increasingly means that we provide, such as bespoke and
are ‘managed by proxies for which there is no differentiated careers and
consensus’, so if you want to know how our employability education.
Across the three datasets, we see a relatively Exploring the data by student characteristics
graduates are really doing ‘why not just ask?’2
positive representation of the graduate voice (BAME, polar quintiles, and disability) reflects a
The graduate voice dataset goes some way to
and the perceived value that they place on their similar picture to what we often see in institutional
enabling us to do so, and it is perhaps up to the
university education. 61% agree or strongly agree Access and Participation Plans (APPs), with a
sector to commit to using it more to effectively
that they are utilising what they learnt during their negative percentage gap across all the student
challenge and influence the ongoing political and
studies, while 82% agree or strongly agree that characteristic groups. The largest gaps are for
divisive narrative of value.
the activity they are engaged in is ‘meaningful’, Black and minority ethnic graduates’ perceptions
and 72% agree or strongly agree that their of their current activity being ‘on track’ when
current activity is ‘on track’. As such, the data compared to their white peers (-3.6%) and for
demonstrates that graduates acknowledge the graduates who have declared a disability when
impact of their university education upon their compared to those without a disability (-3.2%).
current activity, that this activity is of subjective
value to them, and that their activity is presenting
positive prospects to help them achieve their Interestingly, the negative trends are reversed or
future plans. These insights alone move us beyond reduced when we explore polar quintiles, with a
the binary definition of value. positive gap (+0.7%) identified in utilising what
they learnt during their studies for graduates from
low participation neighbourhoods compared to
Subject variation their peers from areas with a higher propensity
to attend HE. We also see a less pronounced
Across all three of the metrics there is, inevitably, gap (-0.8%), when we consider the extent to
subject variation in the responses. Perhaps which graduates perceive their current activity
unsurprisingly, there is also a clear split across as being meaningful. This perhaps reflects the
those disciplines which arguably have a more difference between expectation and reality, and
vocationally-focused pathway. This trend is more the value some students from low participation
overt in graduates utilising what they learnt neighbourhoods place on their activities and
during their studies (ranging from 50% in Politics opportunities for progression within the context of
up to 76% in Education) and with the ‘on track’ their background.
data (ranging from 62% in Art up to 83% in
Civil Engineering). Interestingly, the distinction Future commitment
between vocationally-focused disciplines and
other disciplines is less evident in graduates’
perceptions of how meaningful their activity is. The context which the graduate voice data
This suggests a more consistent sense of value can add to the traditional analysis of graduate
in the activities that graduates are undertaking destinations has the potential to be incredibly
across all disciplines (the lowest positive response powerful. A valued ex-colleague once reflected
was in Cinematics and Photography at 73%). that our current system of capturing the value

8
Tackling inequalities in graduate employment outcomes By grouping all non-white
graduates into a box we
are missing key nuances
in the data that can, and
should, be used to further
Rachel Beauchamp, Anna Levett and Obieze Oputa - members of the AGCAS Equality inform decision-making
and Diversity Advisory Group - explain why inequalities of opportunity need to be and policymaking.
addressed holistically
We know that there is an employment Pandemic impact For example, 2019/20 data demonstrates that Rachel Beauchamp is postgraduate company
outcomes gap between UK-domiciled white 75.2% of employed white male graduates are projects manager at Lancaster University
students and students from different ethnic Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 has impacted graduate in professional-level jobs compared to 61.3% Management School. Anna Levett is head of
backgrounds - it has been a talking point in outcomes across the board with a reduction in full- of female Asian-Bangladeshi graduates. This Careers and Employment at the University of
recent years and the gap was highlighted in time employment outcomes across all ethnic groups. gap of 14 percentage points will not be closed Hertfordshire. Obieze Oputa is careers consultant at
the 2021 edition of What do graduates do? For those students who graduated in 2018/19 by addressing ethnicity in isolation. Data should The Careers Group.
The situation has to have improved since this was down from 60.2% to 55.7%. Although be viewed holistically, acknowledging and
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME GAPS

then, right? Sadly, the most recent Graduate the data has improved for the graduating class of addressing the inequality of opportunity from
WON’T BE CLOSED BY FOCUSING ON

Outcomes data indicates that things are not 2019/20 (with an increase to 57.4%) we are still not different perspectives.
ETHNICITY IN ISOLATION.
getting better. back to pre-pandemic levels and some groups have
been more heavily impacted than others. Chinese What next?
75.2%
Ethnicity matters graduates are now the group with the highest
unemployment rate (11.6%). The percentage of Universities and employers have taken steps to
BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) is divisive as Chinese graduates in full-time employment has address inequalities in graduate outcomes over the
a catch-all term. Frequently used to group all ethnic reduced by 5.9 percentage points between 2017/18 past few years. Schemes such as the 10,000 Black
minorities together, it disguises huge differences in and 2019/20 compared with the average reduction Interns programme and various targeted ‘diversity
outcomes between them. For example, if we look across all ethnicities of 2.8 percentage points. internships’ are all positive steps towards tackling
at the 2019/20 Graduate Outcomes data we can the graduate outcomes gap. Due to the lag between
see that 59.3% of white graduates were in full-time Intersectionality graduation and Graduate Outcomes data collection
employment 15 months after graduation compared we won’t know the full impact of these interventions
White male graduates in professional-level jobs
with 51.3% of BAME graduates. This gap of eight Everyone has their own unique experiences of for quite some time.
61.2%
percentage points is problematic in itself, but if we discrimination and oppression. We must recognise
look even more closely at the data we can see, for all aspects that can be used to marginalise people, While there has been a flurry of remedial action
example, that the gap is even wider for Asian or such as gender, race, class, sexual orientation, in this area in the last few years, there is still a lot
Asian British-Pakistani graduates with a difference in physical ability etc. Acknowledging the importance more to be done, particularly from moving from
outcomes of 11.2 percentage points. of intersectionality means that tackling the a piecemeal approach to one that is strategically
graduate outcomes gap for ethnic minority embedded in, part of and informs organisational
By grouping all non-white graduates into a box students alone is not an equitable approach. All strategy and policy; fully resourced, monitored,
we are missing key nuances in the data that can, forms of inequality surfaced in the data must be and championed by employers, universities, and
and should, be used to further inform decision- analysed and addressed simultaneously to prevent employability services. There needs to be more Female Asian-Bangladeshi graduates in
making and policymaking addressing graduate the rights, interests and voices of minorities from collaboration, sharing of data and impact, and professional-level jobs
outcome inequalities. being overlooked. application of what works across organisations.

9
Graduate Outcomes and the future world of work What we can say with some
certainty is that undertaking a
university degree undoubtably
helps graduates develop
Gabi Binnie, head of funded projects at Gradconsult, explores how the snapshot of essential skills that will equip
the past provided by Graduate Outcomes data can inform the support required by the them for success in the future.
students and graduates of the future
The Graduate Outcomes survey provides associate professional occupations (22%) and their work is often related to their degree than ups with formal business/enterprise support
insight into the activities of graduates once employed as managers, directors and senior other disciplines.1 While they make up only 17% from the HE provider were launched in 2020/21,
they gain their qualification and make their officials (3%). of the graduate population, they represent the highest number since data collection began
next step. By its nature, it is a glimpse into 46% of graduates working in the creative in 2014/15.
the, albeit recent, past. Even without the However, graduates are also employed in jobs industries. This demonstrates firstly, why it is so
turbulence of the past two years, the world that are not classed as ‘high skilled’, including important that definitions of a ‘good graduate
This reflects the start-up market across the UK,
of work was changing, with digitisation, administrative and secretarial jobs (7%), caring, job’ capture those that the graduate finds
with a record 772,002 new businesses started in
globalisation and social factors already leisure, and other service occupations (6%) and meaningful, relates to their chosen field or uses
2020, an increase of 13.25% since 2019.3 The
changing the ways we work and think sales and customer service occupations (5%). skills that they’ve learned during their degree;
UK is ahead of India and China when it comes to
about work. How, if at all, can the graduate and secondly, that over half of the graduates
start-up funding, with a record-breaking £29.4bn
outcomes of the past help us support the working in these industries are not from a
Research by the Skills and Employability Board in invested in UK start-ups in 2021 and an even
graduates of the future? creative arts background.
2022 predicts that in the next five to ten years, greater figure predicted for 2022.4 Research
there will increasing demand in England for by the Global Entrepreneurs Centre found that
The big picture managers, directors, and senior officials and for At the time of survey, 3% graduates were nearly 13% of UK adults in 2022 are in the first
workers in professional occupations, associate self-employed/freelancing, 1.4% were running three months of starting a new business or are
There are some differences in the employment professional and technical occupations, and their own business and 2.2% were developing already running a young enterprise, compared to
outcomes of 2018/19 graduates, who were caring, leisure, and other service occupations.1 a creative, artistic or professional portfolio. 8% in 2020.5
surveyed during the early pandemic, and 2019/20 This is pretty good news for graduates and Two fifths of graduates running their own
graduates. The proportion of 2019/20 graduates education providers, and we might reasonably business saw it as their most important activity
Clearly, the UKs entrepreneurship bubble is
in full-time employment has increased by five predict that graduate employment in high-skilled (40.7%) and 42.8% of graduates self-employed
booming, and graduates from all disciplines
percentage points in comparison to 2018/19 roles will increase accordingly. or freelancing reported it as their most
can become creators of their own businesses
(57.3%, compared to 52.3%). There is little important activity.
or intrapreneurs within established ones. The
difference in the part-time employment rates Being their own boss role of careers and employability professionals
for 2019/20 (11.4%) graduates and the 2018/19 The number of businesses started by recent in supporting graduates who aspire to
cohort (12.4%). One advantage of the survey is that it gives graduates (within two years) with formal support entrepreneurship is recognised by UKRI, with
us some understanding of other types of work from a UK HE provider has increased year-on- examples of Higher Education Innovation
Across all subject areas, 2019/20 graduates in graduates undertake that isn’t on behalf of an year since 2014, with 15,793 graduate start- Funding (HEIF) being used to support enterprise
employment were most likely to be employed in employer. Nesta’s ‘For Love or Money?’ report ups active in 2020/21, employing 46,723 FTE labs, internships and development programmes
high-skilled roles (74%), with over half employed (2020) while creative arts graduates are more employees and producing an estimated turnover for students from any discipline, as well as more
in professional occupations (49%) and fewer in likely than others to be in part-time employment, of £3,361,635. 2 A total of 4,528 graduate start- ‘traditional’ graduate start-up services.6

10
Graduate Outcomes and the future world of work
Skills for the future The last two years have shown that attempting
to predict the future is a risky business.
What we can say with some certainty is that
In their research for the Department for undertaking a university degree undoubtably
Education, the Skills and Employability Board helps graduates develop essential skills that
identify four categories of skills that they predict will equip them for success in the future. The
will become increasingly important in the labour challenge often lies in students’ recognition
market of the future: and articulation of their skills, which is where
extracting and surfacing the employability
value of degrees, authentic assessments that
▪ STEM knowledge, including specialist skills
mirror the working world and opportunities
such as medicine and dentistry, therapy and
for interaction with employers (either
counselling, and psychology.
extracurricular work experience or embedded in
▪ Skills related to educating and training the curriculum), can help.
others, as well as being an active learner.
▪ People skills, including negotiation,
But there’s another approach too. Experiential
persuasion, and resolving conflicts.
learning programmes can be a scalable and
▪ Application of knowledge skills including quick alternative to adding new content to the
critical and creative thinking, complex curriculum. These opportunities – which I like to
problem solving, and decision-making. think of psychological incubators – can provide
students with the chance to try something new
for the first time in conditions that mimic the
There’s some clear commonality between the hybrid working world, gain feedback and fail
skills predicted to increase in demand and the fast in a supportive environment. Immersive
skills already required of graduate recruits by events, such as the University of Leicester’s
employers,7 but there’s a gap for a fifth category Enterprise and Innovation Lab, brings the idea
- skills that will set graduates up for success in of entrepreneurship to life for those who may
the continuously evolving labour market. The never have considered it and provides them with
World Economic Forum identifies analytical the skills and mindset they need to thrive in the
thinking and innovation, technology use and fast-changing future world of work.
design and resilience, stress tolerance and
flexibility amongst their top ten skills for 2025,
while other analysts suggest grit, perseverance,
driving change and innovation, and emotional
control as critical for the future of work.8

11
How to respond to graduate migration patterns What’s needed are
strong partnerships
between HEIs and local
government and councils,
Paul Gratrick, head of operations at the University of Liverpool Careers and enterprise communities
Employability Team, considers what the latest data on graduate migration means for and regional SMEs.
higher education patterns
When working in higher education we The ‘Dick Whittington fallacy’ is one of the Incomers) are the South West (36%), South East
often find ourselves discussing myths and myths often encountered, in that people assume (34%) and Yorkshire and Humber (33%).
untruths about the sector. This covers a that most graduates want to and do move to
range of things such as the linearity (or London. Looking at those four categories and
What does all of this mean for higher education
rather not) of graduate career paths, UK undergraduates from the 2019/20 Graduate
institutions? Most of the graduates originally
national employment trends, and various Outcomes survey data, Loyals account for 42%,
from the region where you are based will now
other elements of the student experience. Returners 26%, Stayers 11% and Incomers 21%.
live there. Many, but by no means all, will have
studied with you or another institution in the
It’s doubtful that higher education is alone in this Another way to view this is that two-thirds region. It’s a significant number either way, and
2019/20 GRADUATES:
regard, and in any industry there are probably (68%) of graduates are based in their home so graduate-level job opportunities are key to
things that outside lookers-in think are true region 15 months after graduating. Various your graduate outcomes.
when the reality is quite the opposite. This article factors will influence this, such as family and
focuses on one of the myths often encountered relationship ties, caring responsibilities, job
Graduates from institutions across the UK will
42% 11%
which is with regards to graduate migration. opportunities and desires, and regional cost of
return and compete for jobs with your local
living variations.
graduates, but viewing it in these competitive
There are four ways to think about graduate terms is fatalistic, as the same applies to almost
migration, coined by Charlie Ball nearly a Across the UK there are significant variations in all institutions and regions.
decade ago, and they serve as a useful way the percentage of graduates living in their home
Loyals Stayers
to categorise this movement of thousands of region after graduation (Loyals plus Returners). What’s needed are strong partnerships between
people every year. It’s highest for the home nations outside HEIs and local governments and councils,
of England, that is, Northern Ireland (96%), enterprise communities and regional SMEs, to
Scotland (88%) and Wales (76%). In England name an obvious few. Examples of regional
▪ Loyals - studied and now live and work in their
21% 26%
there is broad range, with the West Midlands graduate schemes already exist, many led by
home region.
(75%) and North East (74%) at the top end, and AGCAS members and partners, and it is this co-
▪ Returners - studied in another region, but now London (52%) at the other. Even though London ordinated effort between relevant stakeholders
live and work in their home one. is the lowest for this score it still means that that can better surface and create graduate-
▪ Stayers - studied in another region and stayed most of its graduates stay or return there. level employment. Without proactive efforts to
Incomers Returners
there to live and work. showcase and generate graduate-level roles in
▪ Incomers - studied in one region, and left to live After London (48%), the stickiest regions any region, the majority of graduates may find it
and work in another that isn’t their home one. that keep or attract graduates (Stayers plus harder to secure that type of work.

12
Graduate recruitment through the pandemic
Stephen Isherwood, chief executive at the Institute of Student Employers, explains

why graduate recruitment wasn’t hit as hard as some may have expected by the
COVID-19 crisis
The graduate labour market broadly follows climate changed. Many of the graduates who joined
the fate of the economy, and while the organisations in 2020 are now coming to the end
circumstances of COVID were exceptional, the of their training programmes, often into junior
response of many graduate employers was management roles.
not as severe as many expected. Graduate
vacancies dropped by only 12% in 2019/20. As the COVID crisis deepened, in some sectors
hiring remained constant or even increased. Public
As large parts of the economy shut down, why didn’t sector vacancies actually grew by 4% in 2019/20.
graduate vacancies fall further? Maybe because But other sectors did have to take significant action.
many recruitment targets were met when lockdown Built environment vacancies grew by 25% and retail/
hit in March 2020, or maybe employers initially FMCG vacancies by 45%. In generalising about the
thought the pandemic would quickly pass. I’d like to graduate market, we can forget that in reality there
think the real reason that business leaders resisted are significant sector and regional variations.
short-term pressures is they realised that to cut
recruitment too far would hurt their organisations in Impact of online applications
the long run.
The pandemic also impacted student recruitment.
In previous economic downturns, employers who As employers moved the entirety of their selection
didn’t deal effectively with the interns and graduates process online, students were able to progress
in their recruitment pipelines damaged their applications without the need to travel. With
employer brands and caused resourcing difficulties employers only able to use online channels to
that unnecessarily increased their cost base as the reach students, many expanded the range of
economy recovered. Many employers lost business universities they recruited from. Concerns about the pandemic levels and students returning to campus
when they couldn’t find enough talent to meet the availability of jobs and the decrease in vacancies life and catching up on missed social experiences, it’s
no surprise that some employers are struggling to
In previous economic downturns,
uplift in demand, or they paid a significant premium drove up applications per vacancy, but so did a more
attract enough students. employers who didn’t deal effectively
in the labour market to fill roles which in turn accessible selection process.
damaged their profitability. with the interns and graduates in
Students in previous recessions have struggled The war in Ukraine, and the resultant economic their recruitment pipelines damaged
Unless a business was in a hard-hit sector such to disentangle bleak news headlines from the fallout, may yet cause short term damage to the their employer brands and caused
as retail or travel, leaders minimised the negative realities of the jobs market (the ISE reported unfilled early talent labour market. But as the COVID crisis resourcing difficulties.
impact to the students in their pipeline to ensure vacancies in 2009, the worst period in the financial demonstrated, employers have a long-term need to
they were able to grow again when the economic crash). With recruitment levels now well above pre- recruit and retain graduates.

13
BUSINESS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE
STUDIES
Business and administrative studies overview Business and administrative
studies subjects showed
consistently higher than
average numbers of graduates
Emma Lennox, careers consultant at Queen’s University Belfast, delves into the outcomes in full-time employment.
data for graduates of business and administrative studies subjects
The Graduates Outcomes data shows certification in financial sectors but also the to 7% for finance and accountancy and business courses where professional qualifications were
that 57.3% of graduates from all subjects flexibility of employers to support continuing and management studies. This compares with included in the course (finance and accountancy
surveyed were in full-time employment professional development. Economics (13%), 5.9% for all subjects. 5.2%, business and management studies 5.6%).
and 9.2% in further study. For business finance and accountancy (15.5%) and business Economics graduates were almost double this
and administrative studies graduates, the and management studies (10.7%) were all above Further study figure with 10.7% in further study, perhaps
equivalent figures were 61.2% and 6.3% the average of 10.6%. Hospitality, leisure, tourism, indicating the requirement for professional
respectively. Subjects included within this and transport (7.7%) and marketing (7.1%) were Overall, 9.2% of all-subject graduates were accreditation in some sectors through ICAEW,
professional skills cluster include economics, among the lowest numbers combining working engaged solely in further study, compared to ACCA and CIMA not available in their course.
finance and accountancy, business and and studying. 6.3% of business and administrative studies Marketing were the least likely of this cohort to be
management, hospitality, leisure, tourism, graduates. This could reflect the number of in further study at 4.1%.
and transport, and marketing. Salary
AVERAGE SALARIES OF BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES GRADUATES 15 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION
Employment status Economics graduates who had undertaken
Average salary - no significant further study since graduation (£) Average salary - significant further study since graduation (£)
significant further study had the highest average
Business and administrative studies subjects salaries. Even those economics graduates who
showed consistently higher than average numbers had not undertaken further study had higher £35,000
of graduates in full-time employment, the highest than average salaries, perhaps highlighting the
being marketing (68.7%) and the lowest finance range of professional career paths and graduate £30,000
£31,708
£30,445
and accountancy (58.8%), still above the all- schemes open to this cohort. Hospitality, leisure,
£24,712 - £27,660
£24,796 - £27,542
£25,000
tourism and transport graduates had the lowest
£25,182 - £27,069
subject average of 57.3%. Civil engineering was
£24,136 - £26,090
£24,974
£24,889
the only other subject with higher numbers of salaries reported, with marketing graduates
£23,492
£20,000
close behind. This could reflect the different
£21,770
£21,469
graduates in full-time employment (72.1%).
£21,691
sizes of employers within these sectors and the
£15,000
The numbers of business and administrative competitive nature of the smaller number of
studies graduates in part-time employment graduate schemes available. £10,000
displayed a wide variance, ranging from 5.2% for
economics to 14% for hospitality, leisure, tourism, Unemployment £5,000
and transport, perhaps reflecting the different
nature of these industries. The percentage of business and administrative 0
graduates who classed themselves as Economics Finance and Business and Hospitality, Marketing All subjects
accountancy management leisure, tourism
Many graduates were pursuing further study while unemployed, including those due to start work, studies and transport
also working, showing the need for professional averaged 6.7%, ranging from 5.4% for marketing
BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

15
Economics
4.6% 2.0%
Other 5.2% Doctorate
6.5% Other (e.g. PhD, DPhil,
MPhil, MRes)
those due to start work 60.0%
Working full 6.8%
10.7% or certificate (including
Further study PGCE/PGDE)
28.8%
Professional
13.0% qualification
Working and
studying
SURVEY RESPONSE: 57.1% TOTAL NUMBER OF

5.2% FEMALE 1,290 / MALE 3,285 Masters GRADUATES IN
Working part TOTAL RESPONSES 4,580 (e.g. MA, MSc) FURTHER STUDY 1,035
time in the UK
TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 1.0% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 7.0% Finance and
Business sales
investment analysts
executives
and advisers
2 7
Chartered and
Education professionals 1.8% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.0% Taxation experts
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Management
JOBS
Marketing associate
consultants and
professionals
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 9.5% business analysts
4 9
Information technology professionals 4.8% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 5.3% Actuaries, economists Financial accounts
and statisticians managers
5 10
Business and related

Data analysts
Managers 4.2% Other occupations 1.6% research professionals
16
FEMALE 985 / MALE 2,270 / TOTAL IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK: 3,255

Finance and accountancy
5.2% 0.9%
MPhil, MRes)
5.2%
Working full 4.8%
Further study
or certificate (including
PGCE/PGDE)
15.5%
Working and 35.6%
studying Masters
(e.g. MA, MSc)
SURVEY RESPONSE: 53.3% TOTAL NUMBER OF

8.3% FEMALE 2,050 / MALE 3,100 Professional GRADUATES IN
Working part TOTAL RESPONSES 5,145 qualification FURTHER STUDY 1,005
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.5% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 3.1%
Chartered and Financial accounts
certified accountants managers
2 7
Finance and
Financial managers
Education professionals 1.2% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.4% investment analysts
and directors
and advisers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Programmers and
JOBS
Taxation experts software development
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 21.1% professionals
4 9
Management
Information technology professionals 3.7% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 6.7% Project support
consultants and
officers
business analysts
5 10
Actuaries, economists
Data analysts
Managers 4.4% Other occupations 3.1% and statisticians
17

Business and management studies
5.6% 1.4%
MPhil, MRes)
Working full 9.5%
5.6% time in the UK Postgraduate diploma
Further study or certificate (including
PGCE/PGDE)
20.2%
10.7% Professional
Working and qualification
studying
9.8%
SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF
Working part
time in the UK FEMALE 5,575 / MALE 6,195 56.6% GRADUATES IN
TOTAL RESPONSES 11,765 Masters FURTHER STUDY 1,790
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.9% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 18.9% Sales accounts and
Marketing associate
business development
professionals
managers
2 7
Human resources and Finance and
Education professionals 2.0% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.7% industrial relations investment analysts
officers and advisers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Managers and
JOBS
Business sales
directors in retail and
executives
Health professionals 0.1% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 14.7% wholesale
4 9
Management Business and financial
Information technology professionals 4.3% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 12.1%
consultants and project management
business analysts professionals
5 10
Chartered and Buyers and

Managers 10.7% Other occupations 2.6% certified accountants procurement officers
18

Hospitality, leisure, tourism and transport
6.1% 1.2%
MPhil, MRes)
5.0% Working full 9.5%
Further study
Professional PGCE/PGDE)
7.7% qualification
Working and
studying
14.0%
Working part
time in the UK SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF
FEMALE 1,455 / MALE 630 65.8% GRADUATES IN
TOTAL RESPONSES 2,085 Masters FURTHER STUDY 240
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Events managers Project support
and organisers officers
2 7
Hotel and
Marketing associate accommodation
Education professionals 3.2% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 4.1%
professionals managers and
proprietors
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Human resources Sales accounts and
JOBS
and industrial business development
Health professionals 0.2% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 15.6% relations officers managers
4 9
Sports coaches,
Information technology professionals 0.6% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 20.7% Business sales
instructors
executives
and officials
5 10
Restaurant and
Managers and
catering establishment
directors in retail and
Managers 9.0% Other occupations 4.2% managers and
wholesale
proprietors
19
FEMALE 1,025 / MALE 455 / TOTAL IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK: 1,480

Marketing
3.9% 1.3%
Unemployed, including MPhil, MRes)
those due to start work
68.7%
Further study time in the UK Postgraduate diploma
7.1% 14.6% or certificate (including
Working and Professional PGCE/PGDE)
studying qualification
10.9%
Working part
time in the UK

(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 2.0% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 55.1% Human resources and
Marketing associate
industrial relations
professionals
officers
2 7
Public relations Buyers and
professionals procurement officers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Business sales Business and related
executives research professionals
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 7.1%
4 9
Sales accounts and Management
business development consultants and
managers business analysts
5 10
Database
Marketing and
administrators and web
Managers 4.7% Other occupations 2.0% commercial managers
content technicians
20

CREATIVE
ARTS
Creative arts overview It is evident that considering
employment and
entrepreneurship destinations
under one banner is important
Miriam Firth, senior lecturer and academic lead for Assessments in the Flexible Learning Programme
as they are so entwined.
at The University of Manchester, and Elli Whitefoot, assistant careers, employability & enterprise
manager at Leeds Arts University consider the outcomes for creative arts graduates
The Graduate Outcomes data concerns 5. Clerical and retail work appear to be high to their subject while occupations of creative of those who have worked two or more since
five areas of creative arts study: fine arts, for creative arts graduates. However, when arts graduates working for an employer are more graduation is consistently higher, with those
design, media studies, performing arts, and aligned to all subjects, these are equally high varied, with top results showing teaching, retail and working five or more (1.7%) significantly higher
cinematics and photography. Approximately for all graduates. hospitality among creative occupations in design, than the average across other subjects (0.4%).
20,400 creative arts graduates completed the marketing, photography, and broadcasting.
This could be reflective of those working to support
survey (10.6% of total respondents), of which Employment and entrepreneurship
entrepreneurial activities or be a comment on the
64% identified as female and 36% male. Of The number of creative arts graduates who
nature of the creative industries.
these respondents, 13,040 were working in the Although the number of creative arts graduates worked one job since graduation (52.6%) is
UK with the female/male split remaining at working for an employer (56.5%) was significantly more than 10% lower than the average across Unemployment among creative arts graduates
64% to 36%. below the average across all subjects (68.1%), all subjects (63.7%). However, the percentage (6.5%) was the highest across all subjects (5.9%).
nearly 13% of creative arts graduates cite running
EMPLOYMENT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR CREATIVE ARTS GRADUATES

Five key data points their own business (2.8%) or self-employment/
1. Creative arts graduates are more likely to freelancing (9.9%) as their main activity. This is
work in non-graduate roles than the average almost triple the number of graduates from other
56.5%
for all graduates (41% compared to 28%). subjects (4.4%). If you also consider the number
Creative arts graduate
Setting up their own enterprises, working in of creative arts graduates developing a creative working for an employer
68.1%
a number of temporary/freelance roles, and artistic or professional portfolio (9.1%), which is
supporting societal and non-government significantly higher than all other subjects (avg All graduates average
organisations is equivalent. 2.2%), this more than makes up for the deficit in
2. On average, creative arts graduates are three employment figures.
12.7%
times more likely to be working in freelance/ self- Creative arts graduates
running their own business
employed roles.
Although the number of self-employed creative
4.4%
or self-employed/freelance
3. Creative arts graduates are less likely to go on to graduates is below the sector average - with the All graduates average
further study (4.7%) compared to the average creative industries as a whole reporting 32%
across all subjects (9.2%).
freelancers, compared to 16% in other sectors
9.1%
4. Completing a creative arts postgraduate in 2021 - the ratio follows an interesting trend, Creative arts graduates
course can lead to higher graduate earnings with creative arts graduates nearly tripling the developing a creative artistic
in the creative industries. We do not have
2.2%
or professional portfolio
percentage of entrepreneurial graduates from
the data to align PG study with their previous
undergraduate study, but it is noteworthy other subject areas. All graduates average
that completing a creative arts postgraduate

programme leads to significantly higher Entrepreneurial creative arts graduates are more
earnings (approximately 10%). likely to be working in creative occupations aligned
CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

22
Creative arts overview
Creative arts in context The creative industries represent 5.9% of the UK

economy.2 The number of jobs has increased by
a third in the last ten years, which is significantly
While the Graduate Outcomes data infers
higher than overall employment across the nation.3
employment patterns for creative arts graduates,
There is, therefore, the potential for creative arts
we also need to look beyond this data to get the
students to find graduate employment in the UK
full picture:
labour market.
▪ Graduate roles in the creative industries

Accounting for the nature of the creative industries,
confirmed by creative arts graduates are not
it is evident that considering employment and
stratified enough to distinguish the range of roles
entrepreneurship destinations under one banner is
completed. Therefore, the data does not fully
important as they are so entwined. The number of
account for all creative industries graduate roles.
creative arts graduates working on entrepreneurial
▪ Employers and graduates do not always align activities, alongside those who have worked
a creative industries role in the same way as more than one job since graduation, highlights
the sector. Therefore, the data does not always the need for a robust enterprise education for all
accurately identify all graduates working in creative students as an equal part of their careers
these roles. education, rather than as an addition.
▪ Graduate Outcomes reflects main activities,
so does not provide insight into creative arts
graduates who rely on other employment
to subsidise their bills whilst pursuing
entrepreneurial activities.

23
Art
8.3% 1.7%
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
Other
7.9% MPhil, MRes)
Unemployed, including 36.4%
those due to start work Working full 21.9%
5.9%
Further study
10.4% PGCE/PGDE)
Professional
qualification
11.9%
Working and
studying

29.6% FEMALE 1,280 / MALE 290 50.9% GRADUATES IN
Working part TOTAL RESPONSES 1,565 Masters FURTHER STUDY 240
time in the UK (e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Teaching professionals
Artists
n.e.c.
2 7
Marketing associate Primary education
professionals teaching professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Secondary education Arts officers, producers
teaching professionals and directors
4 9
Information technology professionals 0.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 22.2% Graphic and Business sales
multimedia designers executives
5 10
Science, engineering
Public relations
and production
Managers 2.5% Other occupations 4.5% professionals
technicians n.e.c.
24
FEMALE 740 / MALE 155 / TOTAL IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK: 895

Design
5.4% 1.2%
6.2% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
53.1%
Further study
6.9% 7.2% PGCE/PGDE)
Professional
Working and
qualification
studying
24.9%
Working part SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Graphic and Public relations
multimedia designers professionals
2 7
Marketing associate
Education professionals 2.4% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 0.4% Artists
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Web design
Interior designers
professionals
4 9
CAD, drawing
Information technology professionals 3.4% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 15.4% Clothing, fashion and
and architectural
accessories designers
technicians
5 10
Design occupations Buyers and

Managers 3.2% Other occupations 3.7% n.e.c. procurement officers
25

Media studies
5.5% 3.0%
7.6% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
MPhil, MRes)
Working full 16.1%
5.0% time in the UK
7.5% Postgraduate diploma
Professional
qualification PGCE/PGDE)
9.1%
Working and
studying
22.1%
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Marketing associate
professionals
officers
2 7
Public relations Business sales
professionals executives
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Arts officers, producers Business and related
and directors research professionals
4 9
Photographers, audio-
Information technology professionals 3.7% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 19.5% Authors, writers and
visual and broadcasting
translators
equipment operators
5 10
Programmers and
Graphic and
software development
Managers 2.1% Other occupations 4.9% multimedia designers
professionals
26

Performing arts
6.0% 3.0%
5.7% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
42.4%
Working full 21.9%
6.5% time in the UK
Professional
qualification PGCE/PGDE)
12.3%
Working and
studying
27.1%
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Actors, entertainers Marketing associate
and presenters professionals
2 7
Photographers, audio-
Secondary education
Education professionals 13.8% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.3% visual and broadcasting
teaching professionals
equipment operators
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Primary education
Musicians
4 9
Information technology professionals 1.4% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 18.3% Teaching professionals Dancers and
n.e.c. choreographers
5 10
Human resources and
Arts officers, producers
Managers 3.3% Other occupations 4.4% and directors
officers
27

Cinematics and photography
6.1% 0.7%
7.2% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
47.5%
Further study
PGCE/PGDE)
7.4%
Working and
studying
8.4%
Professional
qualification
28.4%
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 38.3% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 7.7% Arts officers,
Authors, writers and
producers and
translators
directors
2 7
Photographers,
audio-visual and
Education professionals 1.3% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 0.7% Artists
broadcasting
equipment operators
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Graphic and Business and related
multimedia designers research professionals
4 9
Information technology professionals 1.5% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 19.9% Marketing associate Managers and directors
professionals in retail and wholesale
5 10
Public relations Business sales

Managers 3.2% Other occupations 4.8% professionals executives
28

TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING
AND MATHS
Technology, engineering and maths overview Graduates from technology
and engineering disciplines
have higher full-time
employment rates than the
Mark Allen, careers consultant at Imperial College London, provides a rundown of the
all-graduate average.
destinations, types of work and salaries of graduates from technology, engineering and
maths subjects
The skills gap in science, technology, Graduates from all technology, engineering Salaries
engineering and maths (STEM) is a long- and maths disciplines were more likely to enter
standing issue, with an estimated shortfall graduate-level jobs than the all-graduate average The salary range for technology, engineering
of 173,000 workers in the STEM sector.1 (74.0%). The civil engineering rate was the highest and maths graduates varies depending on the
Alongside more applied technical roles, (91.4%), followed by architecture and building subject studied. When graduates had not pursued
the government’s recruitment targets (89.2%) and chemical engineering (88.3%). significant study since graduation, IT had a salary
for secondary school teachers have been range that spanned from £21,509 to £34,840.
A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF
persistently missed, particularly in shortage Types of work Highest of the engineering graduates were
MATHS GRADUATES CHOSE TO MOVE

subjects like maths and science.2 A glance at chemical engineering at £29,944, with mechanical
INTO FURTHER STUDY

the list of UK shortage occupations reveals The data shows engineering graduates typically engineering the lowest at £27,685, but still
how highly sought after these graduates are. find roles relevant to their degree with, at the comparing favourably to the all-subject average
higher end 78.1% of civil engineering graduates, (£24,974). Architecture and building graduates had
and at the lower 40.8% of chemical engineering the lowest salary range from £21,451 to £27,677.
Destinations
56% 10.9%
graduates, working as engineering professionals. It’s worth noting that pursuing significant study
Chemical engineering also had a notable had only a negligible effect on salary.
The 2019/20 Graduate Outcomes data shows proportion going into business, HR and finance
that graduates from technology and engineering (19.5%), perhaps related to fewer opportunities in Further study
disciplines have higher full-time employment some more traditional chemical engineering routes,
rates than the all-graduate average (57.3%). such as oil and gas.3 For civil engineering, architecture and building, Maths graduates Maths graduates
Within the technology and engineering group, electrical and electronic engineering the rates going in full-time working and
civil engineering graduates continue to have Maths graduates were spread into more sectors, into further study were generally low compared to employment studying
the highest full-time employment rate (72.1%), such as teaching, finance, management the average for all graduates (9.2%), perhaps due
followed by electrical and electronic engineering consultants and business analysts, and to the vocational nature of these degrees and the
(68.5%), chemical engineering (67.8%),
14.1%
programmers and software development demand for graduates from these disciplines. The
architecture and building (67.2%), mechanical professionals, which shows the broad demand for rate of chemical engineering graduates pursuing (compared to
engineering (66.1%) and IT (64.1%). their skillset. further education was slightly higher than average 9.2% for all
(9.8%). The level of maths graduates pursuing graduates)
The full-time employment rate for maths More than two-thirds of IT professionals (67.7%) further study was much higher (14.1%). Of these, it
graduates is slightly below the others (56.0%). were in roles related to their degree, which may not is no surprise to see a greater proportion studying a
However, this can be explained by the significant be surprising with more technology vacancies being postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/ Maths graduates
number who pursued further study (14.1%) or advertised over the last year than in any other PGDE), given that one top job for maths graduates is in further study
were both working and studying (10.9%). sector, showing the high demand for these skills.4 secondary education teaching professional.
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHS What do graduates do? 2023

30
Computer science
4.0% 8.9%
7.8% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
64.1%
Further study
PGCE/PGDE)
7.6%
Working and
studying
14.1%
Professional
qualification
11.3%
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 6.2% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 1.8% Programmers and Information
software development technology
professionals professionals n.e.c.
2 7
IT user support IT operations
technicians technicians
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Cyber security IT quality and
professionals testing professionals
4 9
Information technology professionals 67.7% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 6.2% Graphic and Marketing associate
multimedia designers professionals
5 10
IT business analysts,
architects and Data analysts
Managers 2.1% Other occupations 2.8% systems designers
31

Mathematics
5.1% 5.7%
Other
Other
7.1%
56.0% 20.4%
Working full Doctorate
time in the UK 19.6% (e.g. PhD, DPhil,
MPhil, MRes)
Professional
14.1% qualification
Further study
11.9%
Postgraduate diploma
10.9% PGCE/PGDE)
Working and
studying

FEMALE 1,480 / MALE 2,655 42.5%
6.8% TOTAL RESPONSES 4,130 Masters
GRADUATES IN
FURTHER STUDY 985
Working part (e.g. MA, MSc)
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.6% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 2.0% Programmers and
software development Data analysts
professionals
2 7
Actuaries, economists
Education professionals 13.5% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.2% architects and
and statisticians
systems designers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Management
JOBS
Secondary education
consultants and
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 7.8% business analysts
4 9
Finance and Information
investment analysts technology
and advisers professionals n.e.c.
5 10
Chartered and Business and related

Managers 1.9% Other occupations 1.6% certified accountants research professionals
32

Architecture and building
4.9% 1.8%
Other
13.1% Doctorate
4.1% 67.2%
Further study
Working full 7.0%
8.8% PGCE/PGDE)
Working and
studying
17.6%
Professional
qualification
10.0%
Working part
time in the UK

FEMALE 1,255 / MALE 2,505 60.5% GRADUATES IN
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 3.6% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 1.9% Construction project
Quantity surveyors managers and
related professionals
2 7
CAD, drawing
Education professionals 0.4% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.2% and architectural Architects
technicians
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Chartered surveyors Civil engineers
4 9
Chartered architectural
Information technology professionals 0.4% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 4.3% technologists, Estimators, valuers
planning officers and and assessors
consultants
5 10
Production managers
and directors Interior designers
Managers 8.7% Other occupations 2.1% in construction
33

Civil engineering
4.0% 6.9% 9.6%

Other Other Doctorate
5.4% (e.g. PhD, DPhil,
72.1%
7.0% Working full
13.1% 7.4%
Further study time in the UK Postgraduate diploma
Professional
qualification or certificate (including
7.6% PGCE/PGDE)
Working and
studying
3.9%
Working part
time in the UK
63.0%
Masters
(e.g. MA, MSc)

FEMALE 380 / MALE 1,435 GRADUATES IN
TOTAL RESPONSES 1,815 FURTHER STUDY 250
1 6
Civil engineers Chartered surveyors
2 7
Engineering Environment
professionals n.e.c. professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Construction project Building and
JOBS
managers and civil engineering
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 2.0% related professionals technicians
4 9
Production managers CAD, drawing
and directors and architectural
in construction technicians
5 10
Engineering project Management
managers and consultants and
Managers 3.4% Other occupations 2.4% project engineers business analysts
34

Electrical and electronic engineering
4.1%
Other 15.4% 22.4%
5.4% Other Doctorate
Unemployed, including (e.g. PhD, DPhil,
68.5% MPhil, MRes)
Working full
7.7% time in the UK
Further study
8.5% 13.5%
Working and
Professional
studying
qualification 5.8%
PGCE/PGDE)
Working part
time in the UK

FEMALE 170 / MALE 1,460 43.0% GRADUATES IN
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.9% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 1.6% Engineering project
Electrical engineers managers and
project engineers
2 7
Programmers and
Production and
Education professionals 0.9% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 0.6% software development
process engineers
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Engineering
Electronics engineers
technicians
4 9
Information technology professionals 24.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 3.4% Engineering IT quality and
professionals n.e.c. testing professionals
5 10
IT user
architects and
Managers 4.6% Other occupations 3.1% support technicians
systems designers
35

Mechanical engineering
4.2% 20.1%
Other
9.1% Doctorate
Other
66.1%
Working full
9.0% time in the UK 10.6%
Further study Professional
qualification
8.3% 6.4%
Working and Postgraduate diploma
studying or certificate (including
PGCE/PGDE)
6.0% 53.8%
Working part Masters
FEMALE 380 / MALE 2,850 GRADUATES IN
TOTAL RESPONSES 3,235 FURTHER STUDY 510
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.6% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 2.3% Management
Mechanical
consultants and
engineers
business analysts
2 7
CAD, drawing
Engineering
Education professionals 1.7% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.5% and architectural
professionals n.e.c.
technicians
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Engineering project
JOBS
Engineering
managers and
technicians
Health professionals 0.1% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 2.6% project engineers
4 9
Information technology professionals 7.3% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 4.7% Production and Officers in
process engineers armed forces
5 10
Programmers and
Business sales
Managers 4.9% Other occupations 4.3% executives
professionals
36

Chemical engineering
3.4% 5.1%
Other
Other
6.5%
67.8% 13.1% Doctorate
Working full (e.g. PhD, DPhil,
9.8% time in the UK
Professional MPhil, MRes)
Further study qualification
7.5%
Working and
studying
7.3%
Working part PGCE/PGDE)
time in the UK

FEMALE 360 / MALE 1,085 48.4% GRADUATES IN
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.7% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 3.2% Health and
Production and
safety managers
process engineers
and officers
2 7
Finance and
Engineering
and advisers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Programmers and
JOBS
Chartered and
Health professionals 0.1% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 2.8% professionals
4 9
Management
Information technology professionals 10.0% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 3.5% Business associate
consultants and
business analysts
5 10
Engineering project
managers and Data analysts
Managers 3.6% Other occupations 0.7% project engineers
37
FEMALE 275 / MALE 770 / TOTAL IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE UK: 1,040

HUMANITIES
Humanities overview Humanities graduates
enter a very broad range of
professions and are more
inclined than average to carry
Louise Ogle, careers consultant at Royal Holloway, University of London, takes a look at on studying after graduation.
employment, salary and type of work outcomes for humanities graduates
Humanities degrees have made headlines Unemployment activities’ to ‘Financial service activities, except
for all the wrong reasons in 2022. Attacks insurance and pension funding’ and ‘Legal and
have come from those who believe the field Unemployment for humanities graduates was accounting activities’.
is elitist and outdated1 and politicians have above the overall average rate of 5.9%, especially
promised to ‘phase out university degrees in English (7.3%), history (7.9%) and philosophy
that do not improve students’ earning (7.3%). However, these rates were comparable with This breadth of options demonstrates the
potential.’2 Less directly, student numbers some science and social science subjects including versatility of an education that teaches problem
have fallen as a ‘result of the systematic physics (7.7%), law (7.4%) and IT (7.8%).
solving, critical thinking and social awareness.
promotion of other fields, particularly, for It also highlights the potentially overwhelming
instance, business management.’3 Salaries choice faced by graduates, and therefore
the benefit of work-related exploration and
For humanities graduates, mean salaries were experiences while studying.
Data on graduate earnings, work and further study below the overall average of £24,974 (for those
reveals that humanities graduates enter a very without significant further study). For example,
broad range of professions and are more inclined the average salary for English literature graduates
than average to carry on studying after graduation. 15 months after graduation was £20,593, and for Skills and confidence
history graduates, £22,589. The jobs and sectors
chosen by humanities graduates are likely to
Work and study The Handshake 2032 report5 suggested that
contribute to this lower earnings figure. In addition,
the high proportion of females studying humanities ‘career confidence’ drops throughout university,
subjects (for example 82% of English literature with 33% of students surveyed saying they feel
The Graduate Outcomes survey results show the very confident about their career prospects during
graduates in the survey were female, and 73% of
proportion of humanities graduates in full or year one, dropping to 31% in year two - and to
languages graduates) exacerbates the adverse
part-time work across all subjects is below average impact of the graduate gender pay gap.4 17% in year three. However, according to the British
(average 68.7%). This is balanced by above Academy’s 2020 report Qualified for the Future6,
average percentages of graduates engaging in Sectors skills such as ‘communication, collaboration,
study, or work and study, across all humanities research and analysis, independence, creativity and
subjects. For example, 27.8% of history graduates Education was the most popular sector chosen adaptability’ give humanities graduates access
were engaged in further study compared to by graduates from all humanities subjects in the to ‘sectors which underpin the UK economy and
the overall average of 19.8%. The humanities Graduate Outcomes survey. Many graduates are among the fastest growing’. Accessing these
graduates that chose to study were most likely to were also engaged in ‘Public administration and opportunities requires students to have both the
be enrolled in a Masters course or a postgraduate defence; compulsory social security’, and in a necessary skills and crucially, the confidence to
diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE). wide range of other sectors, from ‘Human health recognise their own employability.
HUMANITIES What do graduates do? 2023

39
English literature
6.3% 7.6% 4.9%

Other
Other Doctorate
46.3% 5.5%
Working full Professional
time in the UK qualification
12.6% 22.1%
Further study Postgraduate diploma
PGCE/PGDE)
14.4%
Working and
studying

13.8% TOTAL RESPONSES 2,070 Masters FURTHER STUDY 535
time in the UK
1 6
Secondary education
officers
2 7
Newspaper and
Marketing associate
Education professionals 18.5% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.4% periodical journalists
professionals
and reporters
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Public relations Teaching professionals
4 9
Information technology professionals 1.5% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 13.8% Authors, writers and Business sales
translators executives
5 10
Welfare and housing
Primary education
associate professionals
Managers 2.4% Other occupations 2.3% teaching professionals
n.e.c.
40

English
6.6% 5.6% 4.6%

Other Doctorate
Other
Unemployed, including 5.5% MPhil, MRes)
42.3% Professional
Working full qualification
time in the UK
22.0%
PGCE/PGDE)
15.0%
Working and
studying
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 11.4% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 18.1% Newspaper and
Secondary education
periodical journalists
and reporters
2 7
Marketing associate Business sales
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Public relations Teaching professionals
4 9
Human resources and
Information technology professionals 2.2% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 14.1% Authors, writers and
translators
officers
5 10
Primary education Arts officers, producers

Managers 2.5% Other occupations 1.9% teaching professionals and directors
41

History
7.1% 4.8% 4.6%

Other
Other Doctorate
Working full Professional
time in the UK qualification
18.6%
PGCE/PGDE)
16.9%
Further study
12.8%
Working and
studying
FEMALE 3,045 / MALE 2,670 63.6%
11.2% TOTAL RESPONSES 5,710 Masters
GRADUATES IN
FURTHER STUDY 1,655
time in the UK
1 6
Secondary education Primary education
teaching professionals teaching professionals
2 7
Marketing associate Business sales
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Human resources and
JOBS
research professionals
Health professionals 0.1% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 15.6% officers
4 9
Management
Information technology professionals 1.8% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 15.8% Public relations
consultants and
professionals
business analysts
5 10
Welfare and housing
Chartered and certified
Managers 3.7% Other occupations 3.2% accountants
n.e.c.
42

Languages
7.1% 7.2% 5.1%

Other
Other Doctorate
49.5%
Working full 10.0%
time in the UK Professional
qualification 21.3%
PGCE/PGDE)
12.2%
Working and
studying

time in the UK
1 6
Secondary education Primary education
teaching professionals teaching professionals
2 7
Marketing associate Authors, writers and
professionals translators
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Public relations Business and related
professionals research professionals
4 9
Human resources and Management
industrial relations consultants and
officers business analysts
5 10
Business sales Teaching professionals

Managers 2.9% Other occupations 1.2% executives n.e.c.
43

Philosophy
7.0% 8.0% 7.8%

Other Doctorate
Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
7.3% MPhil, MRes)
43.8%
Working full 8.3%
time in the UK Professional
qualification
16.5%
PGCE/PGDE)
12.8%
Working and
studying SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF
FEMALE 775 / MALE 610 59.3% GRADUATES IN
time in the UK
1 6
Secondary education Business sales
teaching professionals executives
2 7
Finance and
Marketing associate
professionals
and advisers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Public relations Chartered and certified
professionals accountants
4 9
Human resources and
Information technology professionals 3.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 13.2% Primary education
officers
5 10
Management Welfare and housing
consultants and associate professionals
Managers 4.7% Other occupations 1.9% business analysts n.e.c.
44

SCIENCE
Science overview Science graduates are in demand
in sectors that seek to solve some
of the biggest challenges that we
face, such as human healthcare and
Robert Bowles, careers and professional development adviser at the Royal Society of environmental degradation, as we seek
Chemistry, sets out the key outcomes data for those 2019/20 graduates who studied a sustainable future.
science subjects
Science graduates entered a wide range Salaries and sectors that value chemistry as a first (30%) going into scientific roles, where they can
of well-paying jobs. They are in demand in degree. The chemical sciences contribute an use the scientific knowledge gained during their
sectors that seek to solve some of the biggest average of £83billion in economic output degree. This is likely to reflect the strength of the
challenges that we face, such as human Physics graduates commanded the highest salaries per year2 and many of these roles are in life sciences sector in the UK, which generates a
healthcare and environmental degradation, as for science graduates (£28,116), followed closely manufacturing and research and development wide range of products, from pharmaceuticals
we seek a sustainable future. behind by chemistry graduates (£25,593). Sports roles, which can command higher salaries. to medical devices and testing through to
science graduates had the lowest average starting Biology graduates also had a high percentage consumer health.3
salary of (£20,274). Biology graduates’ average
Most graduates of science subjects entered salary 15 months after graduation was £23,631,
graduate-level jobs. Physics graduates had the which is comparable with those of physical and AVERAGE SALARIES OF BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES GRADUATES 15 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION
highest level of employment in graduate jobs geographical sciences (£23,745).
£35,000
(85%), while the lowest was still an impressive 60%,
for sports science graduates.
Destinations
£30,000
Chemistry graduates had the highest levels of IT jobs were the destination for 29% of physics
£28,116
£25,000
full-time employment (55%), although this was graduates. Another 22% went into roles classified
£25,593
comparable for all science subjects. Physics had as business, HR and finance, which is also a
£23,745
£23,631
the lowest figure for full-time employment (47%), popular destination for physical and geographical £20,000
but this is partially explained by higher numbers of science graduates (21%). Physics graduates are
£20,274
them going into full-time study (25%). also in demand across critical industries, such as
£15,000
engineering, construction, manufacturing, energy
Full-time further study was lowest in sports science and transport, as well as in business and finance,
graduates (11%), although graduates of this digital, teaching, health, and the public sectors. £10,000
subject did have higher levels of further study while This reflects the numeracy and technical skills that
working (14%), which is often undertaken in fields this group gain from studying physics and explains
such as sports physiotherapy or sports psychology. their overall higher average salary, as these sectors £5,000
A fifth of chemistry and biology graduates went often attract higher salaries.1
into further study, consisting of a Masters science 0
degree to achieve further specialisation in a chosen Chemistry graduates had the highest Physics Chemistry Physical and Biology Sports science
geographical
field, or a PhD, for those keen to pursue either percentage going into science-based jobs, 33%, sciences
academic or applied research. reflecting the diversity of scientific organisations
SCIENCE What do graduates do? 2023

46
Biology
5.5% 6.4% 23.9%

Other Doctorate
Other
MPhil, MRes)
those due to start work 48.2% Professional
time in the UK
21.9%
Further study
9.3%
PGCE/PGDE)
11.5%
Working and
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 2.2% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 5.1% Marketing
Laboratory technicians associate
professionals
2 7
Science, engineering
Biochemists and
Education professionals 8.6% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 5.0% and production
biomedical scientists
technicians n.e.c.
3 FIRST-DEGREE
8
GRADUATES
Business associate
Biological scientists
4 9
Information technology professionals 2.4% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 8.2% Secondary education Conservation
teaching professionals professionals
5 10

Chemical scientists
Managers 2.1% Other occupations 3.2% research professionals
47

Chemistry
4.6% 5.8% 53.1%

Other Doctorate
5.7% Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
those due to start work 5.8% MPhil, MRes)
54.8% Professional
time in the UK
21.5%
Further study
10.2%
PGCE/PGDE)
8.2%
Working and
5.3% FEMALE 1,155 / MALE 1,425 25.1% GRADUATES IN
1 6
Chemical scientists software development
professionals
Education professionals 6.7% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 2.7% Laboratory technicians
2 7 Biological scientists
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Secondary education Quality assurance
teaching professionals technicians
4 9
Management Finance and
consultants and investment analysts
business analysts and advisers
5 10
Quality assurance
and regulatory
professionals
48

Physical and geographical sciences
6.0% 2.8% 8.9%

Other Doctorate
Other
those due to start work 51.9% Professional
qualification
Working full
time in the UK
13.4%
PGCE/PGDE)
11.0%
Working and
studying

8.3% FEMALE 800 / MALE 620 68.6% GRADUATES IN
1 6
Environment Marketing associate
professionals professionals
2 7
Secondary education
Education professionals 9.3% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 9.3% Data analysts
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Business associate
Chartered surveyors
4 9
Information technology professionals 2.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 12.2% Business and related Business sales
research professionals executives
5 10
Management
Project support
consultants and
Managers 4.6% Other occupations 2.9% officers
business analysts
49

Physics
5.0% 3.0% 52.0%

Other Doctorate
Other
46.8% Professional
qualification
Working full
time in the UK
24.9% 32.7%
Further study
Masters
(e.g. MA, MSc)
9.2%
Working and
studying SURVEY RESPONSE: 7.1% TOTAL NUMBER OF
FEMALE 560 / MALE 1,755 Postgraduate diploma GRADUATES IN
6.4% TOTAL RESPONSES 2,310 or certificate (including FURTHER STUDY 765
Working part PGCE/PGDE)
time in the UK
1 6
software development Physical scientists
professionals
2 7
IT business analysts, Actuaries,
Education professionals 7.5% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 2.7% architects and systems economists and
designers statisticians
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Chartered and
Data analysts
4 9
Finance and
Information technology professionals 28.6% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 6.3% Secondary education
investment analysts
and advisers
5 10
Management
Engineering
consultants and
Managers 2.5% Other occupations 2.5% professionals n.e.c.
business analysts
50

Sports science
6.7% 12.9% 5.4%

Other Doctorate
Other
Working full
11.0%
time in the UK
7.2%
Further study Professional
qualification 21.9%
PGCE/PGDE)
14.4%
Working and
studying
13.7% SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF

Working part FEMALE 1,845 / MALE 3,210 52.7% GRADUATES IN
time in the UK TOTAL RESPONSES 5,055 Masters FURTHER STUDY 1,235
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.7% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 3.5% Natural and
Secondary education
social science
2 7
Sports coaches, Teaching
instructors and officials professionals n.e.c.
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Human resources and
JOBS
Primary education
4 9
Information technology professionals 0.8% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 12.2% Fitness and wellbeing Police officers
instructors (sergeant and below)
5 10
Therapy professionals Marketing associate

Managers 4.1% Other occupations 6.5% n.e.c. professionals
51

SOCIAL
SCIENCES
Social sciences overview No matter their destination, most
respondents agreed or strongly agreed
that their current activity allowed them
to use the skills they gained from their
Jenny Sloan, careers consultant (Graduate Transitions) at The University of Manchester,
social science degree.
examines the employment outcomes and salaries of social science graduates, as well as
how many went on to further study
A social science degree enables students to Of social science graduates in employment, The majority of social science graduates in further earned more than those who did not. The most
develop a diverse, valuable, and transferable 64.2% were employed on a permanent or open- study (61.3%) were enrolled in a postgraduate pronounced salary increase was seen among
skillset. These skills can grant them access to ended contract. A further 16.4% had a fixed-term taught degree (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA). A further education graduates, who earned £4,038 more on
a range of professional occupations. Many contract lasting 12 months or longer. 17.4% were working towards a postgraduate average following significant further study.
of the world’s most pressing issues, from diploma or certificate. One in ten (10.5%) were
climate change to cyber-security, can only be Social science graduates were less likely to be studying for a professional qualification.
confronted with interdisciplinary action, and in part-time employment than their peers (11% The only exception to this was politics graduates,
social science graduates are well-equipped compared to 11.4% for all subjects). Salaries who earned a nominal £49 less on average with
with the skills needed to work with their STEM significant further study. However, out of all social
counterparts to solve these problems.1 The average salaries of social science graduates science subjects, politics reported the highest
They were more likely to be unemployed (6.8%
were lower than their peers. Those without further total salaries (£24,748 without significant study,
compared to 5.9% for all subjects) and only
In fact, not only can they contribute to change, study all earned a below-average salary (£24,974). £24,699 with significant study).
geography had below-average unemployment
but they can also lead it, with 44% of global Law was the only subject where those with
figures (5.7%). These figures included those
leaders holding a social science degree in 2015.2 significant further study earned more (£25,061)
who were unemployed and due to start work or
It therefore makes sense that these degrees are than the average for all subjects (£24,889). No matter their destination, most respondents
further study.
attractive to employers across the public, private, agreed or strongly agreed that their current
and third sectors.3,4 These figures show that within social sciences, activity allowed them to use the skills they gained
A nuanced picture those who undertook significant further study from their social science degree (60.9%).
A total of 29,710 social science graduates
1
completed HESA’s latest Graduate Outcomes Although social science graduates were less likely
survey, comprising 15.2% of all responses. Almost to be in full- or part-time employment, this doesn’t Legal professionals
three quarters of social science respondents necessarily equate to negative outcomes.
2
identified as female (73.2%).
Sales and retail assistants
Many professions popular with social science
THE TOP OCCUPATIONS FOR
3
Employment vs unemployment graduates, including social work, psychology,
SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADUATES WERE:
Care workers and home carers
education, and law, often require extra
4
Over half of social science graduates (50.1%) qualifications. Therefore, it is unsurprising that
were in full-time employment. This is below the social science graduates were more likely to be Primary education teaching professionals
5
average for all subjects (57.3%). Education and engaged in further study than other subjects
geography graduates were most likely to be in (11.7% compared to 10.6%) or to be working and Education support assistants
full-time employment (54.9%), and psychology studying simultaneously (13.8% compared to
the least (46.6%). 9.2% for all subjects).
SOCIAL SCIENCES What do graduates do? 2023

53
Geography
5.3% 3.6% 4.7%

Other Doctorate
Other
Professional
time in the UK
15.6%
PGCE/PGDE)
12.1%
Working and
studying

7.4% FEMALE 980 / MALE 670 68.6% GRADUATES IN
1 6
Secondary education Environment
teaching professionals professionals
2 7
Marketing associate Business associate
professionals professionals n.e.c.
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Chartered architectural
Finance and
JOBS
technologists,
investment analysts
planning officers and
Health professionals 0.0% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 12.1% and advisers
consultants
4 9
Information technology professionals 2.3% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 10.2% Business and related Business sales
research professionals executives
5 10
Management
consultants and
business analysts
54

Law
6.7% 6.1% 1.3%

Other Doctorate
Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
7.4% MPhil, MRes)
49.5%
Working full 16.1%
11.4% Professional PGCE/PGDE)
Further study qualification
15.8%
Working and
studying
9.2% TOTAL RESPONSES 7,580 Masters FURTHER STUDY 1,990
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 0.9% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 3.4% Welfare and
Legal professionals
housing associate
n.e.c.
2 7
Marketing associate
Education professionals 2.3% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 5.1% Solicitors and lawyers
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Protective
JOBS
Legal associate
service associate
professionals
Health professionals 0.2% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 13.8% professionals n.e.c.
4 9
Information technology professionals 0.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 12.1% Police officers Business sales
(sergeant and below) executives
5 10
Human resources and
Business associate
Managers 3.6% Other occupations 2.4% professionals n.e.c.
officers
55

Psychology
6.8% 7.4% 5.9%

Other Doctorate
Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
6.1% MPhil, MRes)
46.6% 4.9%
those due to start work Professional
Working full
qualification
time in the UK 13.4%
13.3% PGCE/PGDE)
Further study
14.8%
Working and
studying
12.5% TOTAL RESPONSES 7,570 Masters FURTHER STUDY 2,055
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 1.2% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 5.1% Welfare and housing
Therapy
n.e.c.
2 7
Business and
Education professionals 8.2% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 3.0% Other psychologists related research
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Human resources and
JOBS
Secondary education
4 9
Information technology professionals 0.9% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 12.4% Marketing associate Youth and
professionals community workers
5 10
Primary education Child and

Managers 2.5% Other occupations 1.9% teaching professionals early years officers
56

Sociology
6.2% 9.3% 4.4%

Other Doctorate
Other
Working full 6.4%
time in the UK Professional 16.1%
qualification
PGCE/PGDE)
13.0%
Working and
studying

Working part TOTAL RESPONSES 4,990 Masters FURTHER STUDY 1,045
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 1.2% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 4.7% Welfare and housing Primary education
associate professionals teaching
n.e.c. professionals
2 7
Police officers Youth and
(sergeant and below) community workers
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Human resources and Prison service officers
JOBS
industrial relations (below principal
Health professionals 0.5% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 16.3% officers officer)
4 9
Protective
Information technology professionals 1.2% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 18.4% Marketing associate
service associate
professionals
5 10
Secondary education Business and related

Managers 3.1% Other occupations 3.4% teaching professionals research professionals
57

Politics
6.1% 5.0% 3.2%

Other Doctorate
Other
Working full 12.2%
Professional
qualification
PGCE/PGDE)
13.1%
Further study
13.5%
Working and
studying
10.1% FEMALE 1,935 / MALE 2,210 68.8% GRADUATES IN
TOTAL RESPONSES 4,145 Masters FURTHER STUDY 1,070
time in the UK
1 6
Arts, design and media professionals 3.5% Marketing, PR and sales professionals 12.9% Business, research Business and
and administrative related research
professionals n.e.c. professionals
2 7
Public services
Public relations
Education professionals 5.1% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 3.1% associate
professionals
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
JOBS
Marketing associate Secondary education
professionals teaching professionals
4 9
Management Finance and
consultants and investment analysts
business analysts and advisers
5 10
Human resources
Social and
and industrial
Managers 4.3% Other occupations 2.1% humanities scientists
relations officers
58

Education
7.7% 13.5% 1.1%

Other Doctorate
Other
(e.g. PhD, DPhil,
6.5% MPhil, MRes)
54.9%
Working full
time in the UK
6.4%
9.6% Professional
Further study qualification 49.5%
PGCE/PGDE)
9.1%
Working and
studying
12.2%
Working part
time in the UK FEMALE 2,865 / MALE 375 29.4% GRADUATES IN
(e.g. MA, MSc)
1 6
Primary education Child and early
teaching professionals years officers
2 7
Special needs
Early education and
Education professionals 45.0% Other professionals, associate professionals, technicians 1.3% education teaching
childcare practitioners
professionals
3 PROFESSIONAL
8
Early education and
JOBS
Higher level
childcare services
teaching assistants
Health professionals 0.9% Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerks 4.3% managers
4 9
Welfare and
Information technology professionals 0.1% Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 8.1% Secondary education
housing associate
5 10
Teaching Youth and

Managers 1.9% Other occupations 1.2% professionals n.e.c. community workers
59

APPENDIX
Data explained: type of work
Respondents to the Graduate Outcomes survey are asked to give their main job title
and a brief description of their role. This information is used to derive their Standard
Occupational Classification (SOC 2020). These SOC 2020 codes are used to calculate
the types of work categories used in What do graduates do? Changes to SOC 2020
were only introduced for the 2018/19 survey onwards and so comparisons cannot be
made with earlier data.
The Standard Occupational Classifications 2020, and estate managers / Garage managers and proprietors advisers and school inspectors / Early education and childcare regulatory professionals / Electrical and electronics technicians
which are under each type of work category, are / Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors services managers / Other educational professionals n.e.c / Engineering technicians / Building and civil engineering
described below. / Waste disposal and environmental services managers / / Higher level teaching assistants / Early education and technicians / Quality assurance technicians / Planning, process
Managers and directors in the creative industries / Betting childcare practitioners / Veterinary nurses / Careers advisers and production technicians / CAD, drawing and architectural
Managers shop and gambling establishment managers / Hire services and vocational guidance specialists / Other vocational and technicians
Chief executives and senior officials / Elected officers managers and proprietors / Directors in consultancy services / industrial trainers
and representatives / Production managers and directors Managers and proprietors in other services n.e.c. Information technology (IT) professionals
in manufacturing / Production managers and directors Legal, social and welfare professionals IT project managers / IT managers / IT business analysts,
in construction / Production managers and directors in Health professionals Social and humanities scientists / Barristers and judges / architects and systems designers / Programmers and software
mining and energy / Financial managers and directors / Generalist medical practitioners / Specialist medical Solicitors and lawyers / Legal professionals n.e.c. / Social development professionals / Cyber security professionals / IT
Marketing, sales and advertising directors / Public relations practitioners / Physiotherapists / Occupational therapists workers / Probation officers / Clergy / Youth work professionals quality and testing professionals / IT network professionals
and communications directors / Purchasing managers and / Speech and language therapists / Psychotherapists and / Welfare professionals n.e.c. / Youth and community workers / Information technology professionals n.e.c. / Web design
directors / Charitable organisation managers and directors cognitive behaviour therapists / Clinical psychologists / Other / Child and early years officers / Housing officers / Counsellors professionals / IT operations technicians / IT user support
/ Human resource managers and directors / Information psychologists / Therapy professionals n.e.c. / Midwifery nurses / Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c. / Legal technicians / Database administrators and web content
technology directors / Functional managers and directors n.e.c. / Community nurses / Specialist nurses / Nurse practitioners associate professionals / Public services associate professionals technicians / Information technology trainers
/ Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport / Managers / Mental health nurses / Children’s nurses / Other nursing
and directors in retail and wholesale / Officers in armed forces professionals / Veterinarians / Pharmacists / Ophthalmic Science professionals Business, human resources (HR)
/ Senior police officers / Senior officers in fire, ambulance, opticians / Dental practitioners / Medical radiographers / Chemical scientists / Biological scientists / Biochemists and and finance professionals
prison and related services / Health services and public Paramedics / Podiatrists / Other health professionals n.e.c. / biomedical scientists / Physical scientists / Research and Chartered and certified accountants / Finance and investment
health managers and directors / Social services managers Dispensing opticians / Pharmaceutical technicians / Medical development (RandD) managers / Laboratory technicians / analysts and advisers / Taxation experts / Management
and directors / Managers and proprietors in agriculture and and dental technicians / Complementary health associate Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c. consultants and business analysts / Actuaries, economists
horticulture / Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and professionals / Health associate professionals n.e.c. and statisticians / Business and related research professionals
related services / Hotel and accommodation managers and Engineering and building professionals / Professional/Chartered company secretaries / Business,
proprietors / Restaurant and catering establishment managers Education professionals Civil engineers / Mechanical engineers / Electrical engineers research and administrative professionals n.e.c. / Business
and proprietors / Publicans and managers of licensed premises Higher education teaching professionals / Further education / Electronics engineers / Production and process engineers and financial project management professionals / Brokers /
/ Leisure and sports managers / Travel agency managers and teaching professionals / Secondary education teaching / Aerospace engineers / Engineering project managers and Insurance underwriters / Financial and accounting technicians
proprietors / Health care practice managers / Residential, professionals / Primary education teaching professionals / project engineers / Engineering professionals n.e.c. / Architects / Financial accounts managers / Estimators, valuers and
day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors / Early Nursery education teaching professionals / Special needs / Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers assessors / Importers and exporters / Project support officers
education and childcare services proprietors / Managers education teaching professionals / Teachers of English as and consultants / Quantity surveyors / Chartered surveyors / Data analysts / Business associate professionals n.e.c. /
in transport and distribution / Managers in storage and a foreign language / Teaching professionals n.e.c. / Head / Construction project managers and related professionals / Conference and exhibition managers and organisers / Human
warehousing / Managers in logistics / Property, housing teachers and principals / Education managers / Education Quality control and planning engineers / Quality assurance and resources and industrial relations officers
APPENDIX What do graduates do? 2023

61
Data explained: type of work
Marketing, public relations (PR) Clerical, secretarial and numerical clerk occupations / Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers (electrical and electronic products) / Assemblers (vehicles
and sales professionals National government administrative occupations / Local / Carpenters and joiners / Glaziers, window fabricators and and metal goods) / Routine inspectors and testers / Weighers,
Marketing and commercial managers / Public relations government administrative occupations / Officers of non- fitters / Construction and building trades n.e.c. / Plasterers / graders and sorters / Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters /
professionals / Advertising accounts managers and creative governmental organisation / Credit controllers / Book-keepers, Floorers and wall tilers / Painters and decorators / Construction Sewing machinists / Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. /
directors / Buyers and procurement officers / Business sales payroll managers and wages clerks / Bank and post office and building trades supervisors / Upholsterers / Footwear and Scaffolders, stagers and riggers / Road construction operatives
executives / Merchandisers / Marketing associate professionals clerks / Finance officers / Financial administrative occupations leather working trades / Tailors and dressmakers / Textiles, / Rail construction and maintenance operatives / Construction
/ Estate agents and auctioneers / Sales accounts and business n.e.c. / Records clerks and assistants / Pensions and insurance garments and related trades n.e.c. / Pre-press technicians / operatives n.e.c. / Production, factory and assembly supervisors
development managers clerks and assistants / Stock control clerks and assistants / Printers / Print finishing and binding workers / Butchers / Bakers / Large goods vehicle drivers / Bus and coach drivers / Taxi and
Transport and distribution clerks and assistants / Library clerks and flour confectioners / Fishmongers and poultry dressers / cab drivers and chauffeurs / Delivery drivers and couriers /
Arts, design and media professionals and assistants / Human resources administrative occupations Chefs / Cooks / Catering and bar managers / Glass and ceramics Driving instructors / Road transport drivers n.e.c. / Fork-lift truck
Graphic and multimedia designers / Librarians / Archivists and / Office managers / Office supervisors / Customer service makers, decorators and finishers / Furniture makers and other drivers / Mobile machine drivers and operatives n.e.c. / Marine
curators / Newspaper and periodical editors / Newspaper and managers / Sales administrators / Data entry administrators / craft woodworkers / Florists / Other skilled trades n.e.c. / and waterways transport operatives / Air transport operatives
periodical journalists and reporters / Artists / Authors, writers Other administrative occupations n.e.c. / Medical secretaries Hairdressers and barbers / Beauticians and related occupations / / Rail transport operatives / Other drivers and transport
and translators / Actors, entertainers and presenters / Dancers / Legal secretaries / School secretaries / Company secretaries Crane drivers / Train and tram drivers operatives n.e.c. / Farm workers / Forestry and related workers
and choreographers / Musicians / Arts officers, producers and and administrators / Personal assistants and other secretaries / Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c.
directors / Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting / Receptionists / Typists and related keyboard occupations Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff / Groundworkers / Elementary construction occupations n.e.c.
equipment operators / Interior designers / Clothing, fashion and / Sports and leisure assistants / Travel agents / Air travel Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors / Bed / Industrial cleaning process occupations / Packers, bottlers,
accessories designers / Design occupations n.e.c. assistants / Rail travel assistants / Leisure and travel service and breakfast and guest house owners and proprietors / canners and fillers / Elementary process plant occupations n.e.c.
occupations n.e.c. / Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants Parking and civil enforcement occupations / Sales and retail / Postal workers, mail sorters and messengers / Elementary
Other professionals, associate professionals / Market research interviewers assistants / Retail cashiers and check-out operators / Telephone administration occupations n.e.c. / Window cleaners / Street
and technicians salespersons / Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers cleaners / Cleaners and domestics / Launderers, dry cleaners
Natural and social science professionals n.e.c. / Conservation / Collector salespersons and credit agents / Debt, rent and and pressers / Refuse and salvage occupations / Vehicle valeters
Skilled trades, crafts and other and cleaners / Elementary cleaning occupations n.e.c. / Security
professionals / Environment professionals / Other researchers, vocational occupations other cash collectors / Roundspersons and van salespersons /
unspecified discipline / Environmental health professionals / Market and street traders and assistants / Visual merchandisers guards and related occupations / School midday and crossing
Farmers / Horticultural trades / Gardeners and landscape
Police officers (sergeant and below) / Fire service officers (watch and related occupations / Sales related occupations n.e.c. patrol occupations / Exam invigilators / Shelf filler / Elementary
gardeners / Groundsmen and greenkeepers / Agricultural and
manager and below) / Prison service officers (below principal / Shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale / Sales sales occupations n.e.c. / Elementary storage supervisors /
fishing trades n.e.c. / Sheet metal workers / Metal plate workers,
officer) / Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. / Sports supervisors - retail and wholesale / Call and contact centre Warehouse operatives / Delivery operatives / Elementary
smiths, moulders and related occupations / Welding trades
players / Sports coaches, instructors and officials / Fitness and occupations storage occupations n.e.c. / Hospital porters / Other elementary
/ Pipe fitters / Metal machining setters and setter-operators
wellbeing instructors / Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers services occupations n.e.c.
/ Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out / Metal working Telephonists / Communication operators / Customer service
/ Ship and hovercraft officers / Inspectors of standards and production and maintenance fitters / Precision instrument occupations n.e.c. / Customer service supervisors / Bar and
regulations / Health and safety managers and officers Unknown occupations
makers and repairers / Air-conditioning and refrigeration catering supervisors / Kitchen and catering assistants / Waiters
Graduates who indicated that they were in employment in the
installers and repairers / Vehicle technicians, mechanics and and waitresses / Bar staff / Coffee shop workers / Leisure and
UK but the occupational information provided was inadequate
Childcare, health and education occupations electricians / Vehicle body builders and repairers / Vehicle paint theme park attendants
for coding purposes
Early education and childcare assistants / Teaching assistants technicians / Aircraft maintenance and related trades / Boat
/ Educational support assistants / Childminders / Nannies and ship builders and repairers / Rail and rolling stock builders Other occupations
and au pairs / Playworkers / Pest control officers / Animal and repairers / Electricians and electrical fitters / Telecoms and Food, drink and tobacco process operatives / Textile process
care services occupations n.e.c. / Nursing auxiliaries and related network installers and repairers / TV, video and audio operatives / Chemical and related process operatives / Plastics
assistants / Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics) / servicers and repairers / Computer system and equipment process operatives / Metal making and treating process
Dental nurses / Houseparents and residential wardens / installers and servicers / Security system installers and repairers operatives / Process operatives n.e.c. / Metal working machine
Care workers and home carers / Senior care workers / Care / Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers / operatives / Paper and wood machine operatives / Mining and
escorts / Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c. / Skilled metal, electrical quarry workers and related operatives / Energy plant operatives
/ Housekeepers and related occupations / Caretakers / Police and electronic trades supervisors / Steel erectors / Stonemasons / Water and sewerage plant operatives / Printing machine
community support officers and related trades / Bricklayers / Roofers, roof tilers and slaters assistants / Plant and machine operatives n.e.c. / Assemblers

62
Data explained: Survey response data
This section will show you how we have derived our findings from HESA’s Graduate Survey response is at the top of the page and details Type of work - for those in employment in the UK,
the outcomes, type of course studied by those in further this details the graduates who were employed in
Outcomes data, in the hope that anyone will be able to recreate the figures should they study, training or research. the type of work categories as percentages of the
wish. Each page is split into two sections: total of graduates working in the UK.
OUTCOMES TYPE OF COURSE FOR THOSE IN FURTHER STUDY

These are based on the activities that graduates who responded said they were doing at the time This section provides a breakdown of the courses studied by graduates who were in further study,
of the survey: training or research, presents the percentages of graduates who were in further study and were
studying for one of the following:
Working full time in the UK In further study, training or research Doctorate (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil) Professional qualification
Includes those listing their activity as working full Includes those listing their activity as either in full- Includes those who were in further study, training Includes those who were in further study, training or
time, including self-employed/freelance, voluntary time or part-time study, training or research in the or research for a ‘Higher degree, mainly by research research for a ‘Professional qualification (e.g. Legal
or other unpaid work, developing a professional UK or overseas (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil)’ Practice Course, Chartered Institute of Marketing)’
portfolio/creative practice or on an internship in
the UK Unknown pattern of further study Masters (e.g. MA, MSc) Other study, training or research
Graduates who indicated that they were in further Includes those who were in further study, training Includes those who were in further study,
Working part time in the UK study but the information provided was inadequate or research for a ‘Higher degree, mainly by taught training or research for a ‘First degree (e.g. BA,
Includes those listing their activity as working part for coding purposes course (e.g. MA, MSc)’ BSc, MEng etc.)’, ‘Other diploma or certificate’,
time, including self-employed/freelance, voluntary ‘Other qualification’, ‘Not aiming for a formal
or other unpaid work, developing a professional Unemployed, including those due to start work Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including qualification’ or ‘Unknown’
portfolio/creative practice or on an internship in Includes those listing their activity as unemployed, PGCE/PGDE)
the UK and looking for work or those due to start work in Includes those who were in further study, training or
the next month research for a ‘Postgraduate diploma or certificate
Unknown pattern of employment (including PGCE)’ and were studying a subject in
Graduates who indicated that they were in Other education. Also includes those who were in further Please note - Graduate Outcomes data cannot be
employment in the UK but the information Includes those taking time out in order to travel or study, training or research for a ‘Postgraduate compared with DLHE (Destinations of Leavers from
provided was inadequate for coding purposes doing something else diploma or certificate’ but were not studying a Higher Education) data.
subject in education
Due to rounding of percentages to one decimal place
Working and studying on all data pages and first destination tables in subject
Includes those listing their main activity as working editorials, the percentages may not equal 100.0% when
full time or part time and their other activities added together. All numbers used on these pages, where
included full-time or part-time study, training or they refer to people, are rounded to the nearest five in
research and those listing their main activity as in accordance with HESA’s data reporting requirements.
full-time or part-time study, training or research, Throughout this publication the abbreviation n.e.c. refers
and their other activities included working full time to data not elsewhere classified.
or part time, in the UK or overseas

63
References
Graduate labour market overview Graduate Outcomes and the future world Technology, engineering and maths Science overview
1. See the Institute for Government’s COVID of work overview 1. Change the world: jobs that make a difference,
timeline. 1. Understanding current and future skills needs, 1. Addressing the STEM skills shortage challenge, Institute of Physics, 2022.
2. Plan for Jobs, HM Treasury, July 2020. policy report by the Skills and Productivity Board, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2. Chemistry’s Contribution: workforce trends and
3. Coronavirus: Impact on the labour market, produced on behalf of the Department for 2021. economic impact, Royal Society of Chemistry,
House of Commons Library, August 2022. Education, May 2022. 2. Teacher Shortages in England - Analysis and Pay 2020.
4. Data from Adzuna online ad tracking for the 2. For Love or Money? Graduate motivations Options, The Education Policy Institute, 2020 3. Life sciences: industrial strategy, GOV.UK, 2017.
and the economic returns of creative higher
Social sciences overview
ONS, see here. 3. Business Outlook 2021, The UK Oil & Gas
education inside and outside the creative Industry Association Limited, 2021
5. See Prospects Luminate’s Graduate labour
industries, Martha Bloom, 2020.
market update from 23 July 2020 for an 4. People and skills report 2022, Tech Nation, 2022 1. Qualified for the future: Quantifying demand
example of thinking on the then-state of the 3. Intellectual property, start-ups and spin-offs,
Humanities overview
for arts, humanities and social science skills, The
labour market. HESA, June 2022.
British Academy, 2020.
6. Our labour market update from 21 December 4. The CFE business startup index, Centre for
1. How the humanities became the new enemy 2. What do the world’s most successful people
2021 gives a flavour of the key issues. Entrepreneurs.
within, The Guardian, 2020. study?, British Council, 2015.
7. ‘Is hybrid working here to stay?’, ONS, May 2022. 5. UK tech start-ups overtake China to achieve
2. Sunak vows to crack down on university degrees 3. The right skills: Celebrating skills in the arts,
record-breaking first quarter investment, The
The untapped potential: graduate voice

with low outcomes, The Independent, 2022. humanities and social sciences, The British
National, June 2022.
and the value of HE

Academy, 2017.
6. New British businesses hit record numbers, 3. The place of the humanities in today’s
knowledge society, Nature, 2019. 4. Vital business: The essential role of the social
according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor,
sciences in the UK private sector, Academy of
1. Consultations: Student outcomes and teaching The Times, February 2022. 4. Graduate Outcomes 2019/20: Summary
Social Sciences, 2020.
excellence, ONS, July 2022. 7. Higher Education Innovation Funding: case Statistics - Summary, HESA, 2022.
2. Why not just ask? The potential value of alumni studies 2021, UKRI, July 2022. 5. Careers 2032 Infographic, Handshake, 2022.
views in assessments of teaching excellence and 8. Student Development Survey, ISE, 2022. 6. Qualified for the Future: Quantifying demand
learning gain, Rigby, 2016. for arts, humanities and social science skills, The
9. Defining the skills citizens will need in the future
world of work, McKinsey & Company, June 2021. British Academy, 2020.
Creative arts overview

1. National Statistics on the Creative Industries,
Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre
(PEC), June 2022.
2. Impact of government policy on the creative
sector, GOV.UK, October 2021.
3. Ibid.

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Technology, engineering and maths

What do graduates do? 2023

What do graduates do? 2023

■ Four fifths (79%) of first-degree graduates

What do graduates do? 2023

11.4% SURVEY RESPONSE: 13.9% TOTAL NUMBER OF

What do graduates do? 2023

North West East Midlands

West Midlands East of England

Wales South East

South West London

What do graduates do? 2023

Northern Ireland Scotland Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man

What do graduates do? 2023

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME GAPS

WON’T BE CLOSED BY FOCUSING ON

outcome inequalities. being overlooked. application of what works across organisations.

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

Stephen Isherwood, chief executive at the Institute of Student Employers, explains

EXPERT INSIGHTS What do graduates do? 2023

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

SURVEY RESPONSE: 57.1% TOTAL NUMBER OF

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

Business and related

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

SURVEY RESPONSE: 53.3% TOTAL NUMBER OF

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

Chartered and Buyers and

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES What do graduates do? 2023

EMPLOYMENT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR CREATIVE ARTS GRADUATES

that completing a creative arts postgraduate

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

Creative arts in context The creative industries represent 5.9% of the UK

▪ Graduate roles in the creative industries

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

SURVEY RESPONSE: TOTAL NUMBER OF

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

Design occupations Buyers and

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

CREATIVE ARTS What do graduates do? 2023

TYPE OF WORK FOR THOSE IN EMPLOYMENT TOP TEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS

Public relations Business sales