Developing future ready sociology graduates

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen explore the future skills needs of regionally relevant employers and the barriers faced by sociology students and graduates in terms of employability

Key findings

• Employers value a wide range of abilities, while viewing communication, collaboration and time management as core skills.
• They identify agility, resilience, leadership and digital skills as important for the future.
• Employers view sociology graduates positively in relation to the blend of skills they bring to the workplace: however, some are uncertain, or have quite narrow views, about the roles in which they fit specifically in their organisation.
• Sociology students and graduates are generally confident about their skills, with strengths in important areas such as communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and judgement and decision making identified.
• Sociology students and graduates are most concerned about making career choices, feeling unsure about their career options, overwhelmed by the perceived range of career options, and lacking knowledge about sectors, job roles and how they fit.

About the report

This research project develops insights into the employability of University of Aberdeen sociology students in relation to the current and future skills needs of regionally relevant employers. This research aims to answer the following research questions:

• What are the future skills needs of employers across regionally relevant sectors?
• To what extent are University of Aberdeen sociology graduates equipped for meeting future skills requirements of regionally relevant employers?
• What careers and employability barriers do sociology students face, and how can these be overcome?

The findings are useful to inform the development of targeted careers and employability provision to overcome barriers which impact on the employability of sociology students, and to maximise the opportunities for those students to succeed in a range of professional roles across a variety of sectors.

The report is of relevance to both specialist careers professionals and academic staff in the School of Social Sciences. While this research focuses on University of Aberdeen sociology students' and graduates' employability, the recommendations based on the findings also provide valuable insights across a wider range of subject disciplines.

Funding for this research was awarded by HECSU prior to its merger with Jisc in May 2020.