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What do Masters graduates do? - Engineering and building

Laura Greaves

May 2018

With many engineering postgraduates studying vocational subjects leading to careers experiencing skills shortages, employment outcomes are generally positive

In 2016, 3,400 Masters degrees were awarded in engineering and building to UK graduates, making up 8% of the total graduate cohort. The most common subjects studied were civil engineering, planning and building.

Full-time study was popular amongst these graduates (62%), with 38% opting to study part time. A large proportion of engineering and building Masters graduates were male (72.6%).

Subject overview

  • 3,400 graduates
  • 8% of total Masters cohort
  • 62% studied full time
  • 38% studied part time

In 2016, 3,400 Masters degrees were awarded in engineering and building to UK graduates, making up 8% of the total graduate cohort. The most common subjects studied were civil engineering, planning and building.

Full-time study was popular amongst these graduates (62%), with 38% opting to study part time. A large proportion of engineering and building Masters graduates were male (72.6%).

Outcomes

The outcomes for part-time graduates were strong, with an above average number in full-time work six months after graduation. A higher than average proportion of full-time graduates was also employed on a full-time basis. Many graduates studied vocational qualifications that led to roles currently experiencing significant shortages.

A higher number of full-time graduates chose to pursue further study, although this was the case across all subjects at Masters level. There was also a significant gap between the unemployment rates of each group, with full-time graduates more than three times more likely to be out of work.

Outcomes,Engineering and building FT,Engineering and building PT
Full time work,67.12701014,84.94643545
Part time work,8.381196703,4.25433526
Working and studying,2.763486069,3.057418112
Further study,8.546996366,2.326011561
Unemployed,9.166488515,2.736030829
Other,4.014822205,2.679768786

Industries

As expected, a large proportion of full and part-time engineering and building Masters graduates were employed in the construction, engineering and research and development (R&D) industry.

Manufacturing was the second most popular industry for both groups, as it was entered by 44.3% of mechanical engineering graduates.

A significant proportion of part-time graduates entered the local and central government industry. This was popular amongst those who studied urban, rural and regional planning (37.5%), where many pursued a career as a town planning officer or architectural and town planning technician.

Masters graduates commonly work for large businesses, and engineering and building graduates proved no exception. In 2016, 56% went on to work for a company with 1,000 or more employees.

Industries,Engineering and building FT,Engineering and building PT
Manufacturing,15.49149327,21.16334139
Construction · engineering · research and development,40.68211945,37.45885396
Retail,5.653723139,1.59545882
Logistics,3.33945445,4.311097676
Hospitality & tourism,2.615257391,0.419857584
Media and publishing,0.942489876,0.776736531
IT and telecoms,3.253718275,1.805387613
Legal and accountancy,0.79047538,0.895976085
Management consultancy,1.63202763,1.302398227
Other business and finance,9.824392854,6.437256483
Marketing and PR,0.364834791,0.167943034
Education,4.119592844,4.758665861
Health,1.109705822,1.651719737
Social care,1.256247796,1.56774822
Local and central govt,6.806601077,14.29195217
Arts · sports and leisure,1.692225371,0.784293967
Other industries,0.425640589,0.611312643

Employment

Six months after graduation, 92% of graduates with a Masters qualification in engineering and building were employed in a professional job. Only 3% of part-time graduates were in non-professional employment.

The occupational data shows that a high number of all engineering and building Masters graduates were employed in roles directly associated with their degree discipline. A significant proportion entered engineering occupations, where they often worked as engineering professionals, civil or mechanical engineers or chartered surveyors.

Some of these occupations, surveying in particular, are among the hardest for employers to fill in the UK labour market and engineering and building Masters qualifications are often in significant demand as a result.

Aside from these roles, both full and part-time graduates found jobs as other professionals, working as architectural and town planning technicians, environment professionals, engineering technicians, conservation professionals and quality assurance and regulatory professionals.

Part-time engineering and building graduates were more likely to become managers, typically in construction, manufacturing and property, housing and estate.

 

Types of work,Engineering and building FT,Engineering and building PT
Managers,4.371866616,13.99607368
Health,0.33382294,0.918925692
Education ,1.820852402,2.756777077
Social and welfare,0.880078661,1.476128817
Science,2.802291846,0.668309594
Engineering,45.06670389,50.51585147
IT,4.426492189,3.564596299
Business and finance,9.518809405,7.631260181
Marketing and sales,3.006834266,1.824485193
Arts and media,2.093980262,1.399273213
Other professionals,14.50308938,12.21252245
Health and education occupations,0.42486556,0.167077399
Clerical and secretarial,2.515204118,0.446096654
Retail and service ,4.269291931,0.584770895
Other occupations,3.905121451,1.837851385
Unknown occupations,0.06069508,0

Location

Engineering and building graduates are well represented throughout the country, although London was still the most popular region for both full and part-time graduates to find employment. Those who studied architecture, planning, building, civil and chemical, process and energy engineering found a number of opportunities in the capital. Other favourable regions were the South East, Scotland and the North West.

Scotland has a strong engineering sector, so it is not surprising that Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen were among the five most popular cities to work in outside of London for these graduates, the oil and gas industry remaining a significant draw. The remaining two cities were Manchester and Birmingham.

Graduates wishing to pursue a career in this field may consider looking further afield to find employment opportunities.

Location,Engineering and building FT,Engineering and building PT
North East,2.62157961,3.65947384
North West,8.817760122,10.01055699
Yorkshire and The Humber,4.103234721,5.300451839
East Midlands,4.349354783,7.79950171
West Midlands,6.888894372,8.432076348
East of England,6.111673123,5.808876314
London,29.38081374,20.71196318
South East,12.24431888,13.65482877
South West,8.296528412,8.785946539
Wales,2.991684966,3.379080275
Scotland,12.09072516,10.81035429
Northern Ireland,1.973895236,1.646889912
Guernsey · Jersey and the Isle of Man,0.129536875,0

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