A region-by-region guide to graduate destinations in the UK - with an introduction by AGCAS, insight and analysis by Charlie Ball, and commentary and data for every region of the UK
Key findings
This year's edition of What do graduates do? takes a look at graduate destinations in the UK by region, revealing the top jobs, occupations and industries that graduates enter in each area - as well as the main occupational shortages.
- There is no 'UK graduate labour market' as such. Instead, the UK is made up of a complex set of interlocking, sometimes overlapping local and regional labour markets.
- Each region of the UK has its own character, issues of occupational supply and demand, and its own guidance and employability support challenges.
- The picture is of an urbanised jobs market based around London and its environs, and the larger regional centres of the country.
- Jobs are not evenly distributed throughout the UK, and tailoring careers advice can help students understand what opportunities are in their area.
Each section of the report contains a wealth of data, trends and analysis about the region in question. For example:
- The North East has seen a 25% increase in graduates entering business, HR and finance professions.
- 36.7% of new graduates in Yorkshire and the Humber's business and finance sector work in Leeds.
- 29.7% of new graduates in the East Midlands work for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- 12.2% of all new graduates starting their careers work in the South East.
- More than half of graduates working in London six months after graduation were originally domiciled in the capital city.
- 90.6% of graduates starting their careers in Scotland had studied there.
What's inside
- Introduction by Gabi Binnie, policy and research manager at AGCAS.
- What do graduates do in the regions? by Charlie Ball, head of higher education intelligence at Prospects.
- Commentary and data for every region of the UK: North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East, South West, London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- National averages.
About the report
What do graduates do? Regional edition 2019/20 was published in October 2019. It is a region-by-region guide to graduate destinations in the UK, six months after graduation.
It is based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) 2016/17 survey, and the Employer Skills Survey 2017.
The report was produced by Prospects and AGCAS on behalf of HECSU.
You can also read our regular What do graduates do? publication.
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