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What do anthropology graduates do?

Micha-Shannon Smith

February 2025

Anthropology graduates transitioned into a wide range of different careers and most described their work as meaningful, though the percentage in professional-level roles was below average, according to the latest data

This article is part of a series exploring the outcomes of graduates from subjects that are not included in the What do graduates do? publications.

According to the latest Graduate Outcomes data, most anthropology graduates were in employment 15 months after graduation. Full time work (49.1%) was the most common destination, while 11% found work in part-time roles.

They found employment in various sectors, such as:

  • Advertising and marketing associate professionals
  • Public relations professionals
  • Bar staff
  • Sales and retail assistants
  • Human resources and industrial relations officers
  • Business and related research professionals
  • Events managers and organisers
  • Social and humanities scientists
  • Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.)
  • Other administrative occupations n.e.c.

A small percentage of anthropology graduates were unemployed (7%), though this figure was above the average for all graduates (5.6%).

,Percentage of anthropology  graduates
Employment and further study,11.6
Full-time employment,49.1
Full-time further study,11.5
Other including travel caring for someone or retired,7.1
Part-time employment,10.9
Part-time further study,0.8
Unemployment,7
Voluntary or unpaid work,1.9

(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)

Further study

Around one in ten (11.5%) anthropology graduates chose to pursue full-time further study, with a further 11.6% reporting that they were working while studying. Half (52.3%) of those pursuing additional study reported that they were doing a Masters course, 18.6% were doing a Postgraduate diploma, and 3% said that they were doing a Doctorate when surveyed.

,Percentage of anthropology graduates in further study
Doctorate,3.1
Masters (Such as MA or MSc),52.3
Other Professional qualification,18.1
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE),18.6
Undergraduate degree (Such as BA or BSc),5.3

(Graduate Outcomes, 2024)

Occupations of anthropology graduates

Anthropology graduates enter a variety of sectors. For instance, a fifth (19.6%) reported that they were working in business, HR and finance roles, or marketing, PR and sales roles. Moreover, a smaller proportion reported working in either clerical, secretarial and administrative roles (7.4%), and legal, social, and welfare jobs (4.9%).

An anthropology degree equips graduates with a wide range of skills, including analytical and critical skills, statistical computing techniques, data gathering and interpretation skills etc. This is evidenced by the myriad of roles reported by anthropology graduates 15 months after graduation.

Occupations of 2021/22 anthropology graduates
Business, HR and finance10.2%
Marketing, PR and sales9.4%
Retail, catering and customer service9.3%
Clerical, secretarial and administrative7.4%
Legal, social and welfare4.9%
Arts, design and media4.3%
Managers3.1%
Education2.6%
Childcare, health and education2.2%
Other professionals2.1%
IT1.4%
Health0.9%
Skilled trades, crafts and vocational work0.9%
Engineering0.7%
Other occupations0.6%
Science0.4%

64% of anthropology graduates found themselves in professional-level employment, a figure well below the overall graduate average of 75%, However, it's important to acknowledge that many graduates in non-professional roles may still be fulfilling their aspirations and feel like they are making meaningful contributions.

For instance, 71% of anthropology graduates who answered the graduate voice questions indicated that their current work was meaningful, while two thirds (65%) said that their current work fitted in with their plans for the future. However, just 43% said they were utilising the skills they learned on their course in their work.

Location of employment of anthropology graduates

Anthropology graduates were working in various locations across the UK, with London accounting for the largest proportion at 44.3%. The South East was the second most common location, with areas like Oxfordshire, Kent and Surrey being particularly popular. One in ten respondents found work in Manchester, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside making the North West the third most commonly reported location of employment.

Employment locations of 2021/22 anthropology graduates
East Midlands0.7%
East of England5.5%
London44.3%
North East1.6%
North West9.5%
Northern Ireland2.4%
Scotland5.9%
South East12.8%
South West7.9%
Wales2.2%
West Midlands1.7%
Yorkshire and The Humber1.8%

Salaries

Anthropology graduates who didn't pursue further study after graduation earned an average of £26,731, which is just below the overall average for all graduates (£28,731). However, the average earnings for anthropology graduates who did some form of significant study since graduating was slightly higher at £27,725.

Also in this series:

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Photo: Micha-Shannon Smith
Micha-Shannon Smith
Assistant information analyst
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