Data digest: 2019 retrospective

In a special edition of Data digest, we look back at the year on Luminate while Charlie Ball summarises 2019 in the graduate labour market

January

Graduates on higher salaries living in regions with a high cost of living - such as London and Oxford - often have far less disposable income than those on lower salaries in less expensive regions. Experimental data revealed that graduates in Derby, Sheffield and Belfast were likely to get the best value for their salary. Graduates are not always better off chasing the most attractive salaries - and salaries alone are a poor measure of graduate success. [These cities give graduates the best value for their salary]

February

Expectations for the graduate labour market in 2019 were not overly positive, with Brexit, the economy in general, higher education reform and the apprenticeship levy all providing cause for concern. Nevertheless, a survey by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) indicated a rather better picture, with increases in demand for graduates and the number of graduates accepting positions. [Graduate employers optimistic for 2019 recruitment]

March

Careers and employability services offer a wealth of invaluable information, advice and support for students navigating the tricky transition from university to work. Unfortunately, large numbers of UK university students do not take advantage of the provisions offered to them. Judith Hanley of Solent University sets out three tried and tested methods by which students can be encouraged to engage with careers services. [3 ways to engage students with careers services]

April

Graduates leaving university possess a plethora of skills that are vital to the British economy. However, concerns remain about a lack of soft and digital skills, with 65% of corporations viewing graduates as ill-prepared in some way. Stephen Somerville, managing director of government and employer partnerships at FutureLearn, asks whose responsibility it is to close this gap. [Taking responsibility for the graduate skills gap]

May

Public awareness about the environmental crisis has increased dramatically in recent years. School climate strikes made headlines earlier this year, showing that concern for the environment is no longer limited to Greenpeace and Greta Thunberg, but is of central importance to young people in particular. Businesses, governments and universities are beginning to introduce the language of sustainability and eco-friendliness into how they operate. Claire Guy suggests that careers advisers should do the same. [Embedding environmental justice into career planning]

June

In a hyper-competitive job market, many students feel as if an internship - even an unpaid one - is their only way of getting a foot on the ladder. The Sutton Trust reported that 27% of graduates have previously done unpaid placements with the aim of getting ahead in their career. It is vital that careers advisers help students to understand what is and isn't acceptable practice. The more students are equipped with this knowledge, the easier it will be for them to avoid exploitative working conditions. [Unpaid internships: make sure students know their rights]

July

Transitioning from student to employee can be very challenging, but often workplace wellbeing is overlooked by employers looking to recruit graduates. Businesses need to have a range of robust initiatives in place to make this process as stress-free as possible. Some examples include healthy environments, good training and proper support from the beginning. Getting this right is not only beneficial for the graduate but also for the company. [How employers can support graduate wellbeing]

August

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are missing out on the valuable talent that graduates can offer. There is huge demand among graduates to work within these organisations, but only 30% actually secure employment there. To avoid missing out on the value that motivated, hardworking and adaptable graduates provide, SMEs must work harder to attract and hire them. [This is why SMEs should hire graduates]

September

According to a recent Australian study, training for careers and employability professionals does not always reflect the skills actually required for the job - something that Claire Guy believes is also happening in the UK. As the skillset expected of careers and employability professionals becomes increasingly varied and complex, it is important that they are flexible and agile in their response to the changing nature of higher education. [The changing role of the HE careers practitioner]

October

With the market for attracting the best and the brightest becoming ever more competitive, it is vital that employers try to understand what graduates want from their first job. The Student Room Group conducts annual research looking to understand the views of graduates, with the most recent release revealing some interesting insights into their expectations of graduate careers. Julie Vincent and Hope Dade detail these finding and utilise the insights provided to offer advice to employers looking to employ and retain graduates. [What do graduates expect from their first job?]

November

Nearly a quarter of graduates in 2016/17 were Returners, meaning they moved to another region for university before returning home after graduation to begin their careers. These graduates tend to have certain distinct characteristics and outcomes. Charlie Ball hones in on the experiences of Returners in the North West to illustrate some of these and highlight the need for the sector to find effective ways to 'help this pool of talented individuals to use their skills more effectively'. [My Hometown: challenges for graduates who return home]

December

A report on skills shortages in the UK labour market identified the key industries and occupations facing recruitment difficulties, considered the problem from a regional perspective and looked at why so many vacancies are proving hard to fill. [Skills shortages in the UK]

Charlie Ball's review of the year

Graduate labour market expert and Prospects' head of higher education intelligence, Charlie Ball, tells us what's caught his eye this year.

In the UK, 2019 was dominated by Brexit. There will be no change to that in 2020. But the graduate labour market was affected only in a muted way and mostly in the latter half of the year - at least directly. What was hugely important were some of the underlying reasons for the vote to leave the European Union, and, in particular, the continuing dominance of the UK's cities over the professional labour market of relatively well-paid secure jobs that are largely, if not exclusively, open only to graduates. Big questions have been raised: what can universities do for their local areas? How do we help graduates who find it hard to access these jobs? What should universities be doing for those parts of the country that feel they're losing out? Are the HE cold spots losing able young workers, and if so, what do we do? These are important, live questions and they will not become less important in 2020.

Top HECSU-funded research reports in 2019

• Submitting a CV is an essential part of most job applications. It is important to know what to include, what to exclude and how it should be formatted. Researchers at Keele University set out to create a 'user-friendly rubric' for CVs informed by the views of UK graduate employers. [What employers want in a CV]
• Though it is recognised that students respond more positively when employability is taught with a skills-based focus, this report considered whose responsibility it is to ensure that students are taught these skills is unclear - academics or careers staff? [How should universities teach employability?]
• Changes to financial funding models and an increasing focus on graduate outcomes in higher education have put immense pressures on careers services to prove that they 'add value'. Yet career guidance remains under-resourced and guidance appointments have been shortened to accommodate the increase in need and demand. [The impact of shortening career guidance appointments]

Also in this series

• How did those 2019 predictions work out?
• The graduate market in 2019: the year in review