How the cost of living crisis affects commuter students' careers

A large majority of commuter students believe that the cost of living crisis has an impact on their career decision-making in the month after graduation and is among the biggest influences on their career position six months later

Careers professionals at the University of Bradford examined the link between the cost of living crisis and commuter students' career decision-making and transition, using a mix of surveys and focus groups, in this research funded by the Jisc careers research grant.

Key findings

• As many as 76% of participants agreed that the cost of living crisis had impacted their career decision-making in the month after graduation. The most common themes were the need to find a high-paying role and struggling to afford to commute or relocate.
• One month after graduation, 66% of commuter graduates felt that the cost of living would affect their career progression, with 38% believing that it would restrict their ability to pursue postgraduate study.
• The biggest influence commuter graduates reported on their career position six months after graduation was their location and the availability of work/study options. Only 6% of commuter graduates had moved for work or study at the time of our second survey.
• The second largest influence reported six months after graduation was cost of living, with 82% of respondents agreeing it had impacted their current career position.
• Although 65% of our respondents to the first of two surveys were South Asian, they made up 87% of respondents reporting that they 'have been applying for graduate opportunities but not been successful' in the month after graduation.
• 86% of unemployed commuter graduates were of South Asian ethnicity and 72% of these had a Bradford postcode.
• 29% of graduates felt that universities should offer budgeting or financial advice for after university, and 20% felt that universities should offer financial support.
• 66% of graduates reported worrying about finances since leaving university, 19% on a monthly basis, 20% on a weekly basis and 27% on a daily basis.
• 73% of commuter graduates reported that cost of living had a significant impact on their lifestyle and mainly reported needing to restrict their spending.

About the report

This research investigates the impact of the increased cost of living on commuter students' and graduates' career decisions. It explores specific questions such as:

1. To what extent and in what ways has the cost of living crisis impacted on the career aspirations, career decision-making, and progression into employment of commuter students/graduates?
2. Is the cost-of-living crisis impacting on graduates with particular characteristics disproportionately, such as those from an ethnic minority background, low socio-economic background, or mature students?
3. What are the implications for the type of career and employment support affected graduates require, and when and how that support should be delivered?

The findings are followed by a series of recommendations for careers services, universities, employers and government.

This research was funded by the Jisc careers research grant. If you're a careers professional planning to undertake research, you may be eligible for funding of up to £5,000.