The latest Graduate Outcomes data from HESA, part of Jisc, explores the destinations of those students who graduated in 2021/22. Here are some of the headline findings...
1. The vast majority of respondents were in employment 15 months after graduation
The vast majority (72%) of first-degree, 2021/22 graduates were in full (61%) or part-time (11%) employment when surveyed - with a further 10% indicating that they were working alongside their studies. Interestingly, the same proportion of 2021/22 graduates were in full-time employment in the previous cohort. This was the first time without a year-on-year increase of graduates in full-time employment since the survey of the 2019/20 graduate cohort.
For instance, with 2018/19 graduates the first of two cohorts to be surveyed during the pandemic there was a three percentage point decrease (from 59% to 56%) in graduates reporting that they were in full-time employment 15 months after graduation when compared to 2017/18 graduates.
Moreover, with the following cohort graduating in the pandemic, the proportion of those in full-time employment began to slowly climb back up to pre-pandemic levels, with 57% reporting they were working on a full-time basis when surveyed, a 1% increase on the previous year's figures. This was followed by a four percentage point increase, with 61% of 2020/21 graduates in full-time employment when surveyed, rising above pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
However, among the 2021/22 cohort, there were differences between groups, with male respondents (62%) more likely that female (60%) respondents to indicate that they were in full-time employment. Those with no known disability (62%) were more likely than those with one (54%) to report that they were in full-time employment when surveyed. They were also less likely to report that they were unemployed than those with a known disability.
2. Graduates who studied science subjects reported better outcomes
| English Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) | Full-time employment | Unemployed |
|---|---|---|
| Quintile 1 (most deprived) | 52% | 8% |
| Quintile 2 | 54% | 7% |
| Quintile 3 | 56% | 6% |
| Quintile 4 | 58% | 5% |
| Quintile 5 (least deprived) | 59% | 5% |
Graduates from less deprived areas reported better outcomes than their counterparts from more deprived areas. To illustrate this, in conjunction with data from the English Indices of Multiple Deprivation, 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data reveals an inverse relationship between levels of deprivation and full-time employment, with those from more deprived areas reporting lower levels of full-time employment.
Moreover, we found a positive relationship between levels of deprivation and levels of unemployment, with 8% of those in the most deprived quintile reporting that they were unemployed (significantly higher than the average for all graduates), while just 5% of those within the least deprived quintile reported the same. Those from the least deprived areas were also less likely to report that they were studying full time.
3. Graduates who studied science subjects reported better outcomes
First-degree graduates who studied science subjects (69%) were slightly more likely to be in full (60%) or part-time (9%) employment than their peers who studied non-science subjects. However, with 55% in full-time employment and 13% in part time employment, the majority of graduates who studied non-science subjects were also able to find employment 15 months after graduation, although less likely to be in full-time employment than their counterparts who studied science subjects.
| Medicine and dentistry | 97% |
|---|---|
| Veterinary sciences | 94% |
| Architecture, building and planning | 91% |
| Subjects allied to medicine | 90% |
| Mathematical sciences | 84% |
| Education and teaching | 89% |
|---|---|
| Geography, earth and environmental studies | 79% |
| Law | 78% |
| Combined and general studies | 72% |
| Social sciences | 71% |
The vast majority of both science (82%) and non-science (73%) graduates were in highly skilled employment when surveyed, with 7 in 10 who graduated from an undergraduate course in 2021/22 indicating this, while 9 in 10 who graduated from a postgraduate course did the same.
And, although the majority of both design, and creative and performing arts graduates (61%) and historical, philosophical and religious studies graduates (63%) were in high-skilled jobs 15 months after graduating; a fifth (21%) of working graduates who studied design, and creative and performing arts reported that they were in low-skilled jobs, and 15% of historical, philosophical and religious studies graduates reporting the same. Similarly, nearly a fifth (18%) of working graduates who studied agriculture, food and related studies were in low skilled jobs when surveyed, with just half (51%) of these graduates finding high-skilled employment.
Those who graduated from science courses also reported higher earnings than their peers who graduated from a non-science course. The five subject areas with the highest earning graduates were all science courses, while three of the five with the lowest earning graduates were non-science courses.
| Medicine and dentistry | £34,950 |
|---|---|
| Veterinary sciences | £32,750 |
| Engineering and technology | £30,998 |
| Mathematical sciences | £30,450 |
| Computing | £29,933 |
| Agriculture, food and related studies | £24,980 |
|---|---|
| Psychology | £24,906 |
| Design, and creative and performing arts | £24,000 |
| Law | £23,981 |
| Media, journalism and communications | £23,975 |
4. Respondents in high skilled employment reported salaries that were significantly higher than others
Overall, 2021/22 graduates working in high-skilled occupations reported significantly higher median earnings (£28,000) than those in medium (£22,998) and low-skilled (£21,996) employment.
However, stark differences in median earnings exist between subject areas, with biological and sports sciences graduates reporting median earnings (£24,998) significantly lower than engineering and technology graduates (£30,998). Nevertheless, disaggregating salary data by skill level reveals how important it is to look beyond average or median earnings when assessing graduate salaries.
On closer examination, we find that biological and sports sciences graduates in high skilled employment - representing 68% of biological and sports sciences graduates in this cohort - reported higher median earnings (£26,473) than engineering graduates in both medium (£25,996) and low skilled employment (£23,754) - representing a fifth of engineering and technology graduates.
Moreover, the survey data also reveals significant intra-subject differences in earnings according to skill level. As an example media, journalism and communications graduates, in high skilled employment, reported median earnings £2,927 higher than those in low skilled employment.
Even more stark differences exist among graduates who studied subjects associated with high earnings, with medicine and dentistry graduates in high skilled employment reporting median earnings £10,450 higher than those in medium skilled employment. Similarly, computing graduates in high skilled employment were earning £9,125 more than their counterparts in low skilled employment.
5. Male respondents report higher median earnings than their female counterparts
The median salary for all 2021/22 graduates who obtained a first degree qualification was £27,500 according to Graduate Outcomes data. A closer look at the data reveals that the £27,000 to £29,999 band contains the highest proportion of graduates in full-time paid UK employment at 17%, followed by the £24,000-£26,999 band with 16% of graduates.
Female respondents (57%) were more likely than their male counterparts (44%) to indicate that they were earning a salary of £29,000 or less. On the other hand, 56% of males said that they are earning a salary above £30,000, compared to just over two fifths (43%) of females.
Moreover, male respondents (17%) were nearly twice as likely to report that they were earning a salary above £45,000 than female respondents (9%).
However, the data also conveys some interesting intra-gender differences in salary, with males in high-skilled employment earning more than males in medium and low-skilled employment. Similarly, females in high skilled employment reported earnings significantly higher than both male and female respondents in medium and low-skilled employment.
| Male high skilled | £29,998 |
|---|---|
| Male medium skilled | £23,981 |
| Male low skilled | £22,800 |
| Female high skilled | £28,000 |
|---|---|
| Female medium skilled | £22,998 |
| Female low skilled | £21,996 |
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