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Graduates face jobless future
Peter Dominiczak11.06.09
Up to 40,000 university graduates could still be unemployed in six months because of the recession.
The number of new graduates out of work will double compared with last year, according to research by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit.
Figures suggest that one in 10 of this year's graduates will be out of work and that the number of unemployed under-25s could reach the one million mark.
Charlie Ball, deputy director of research at Hecsu, said: "If this follows the last recession we could see up to four years of depressed jobs for graduates."
He added: "We think it's going to be at least as bad next year."
David Willetts, the shadow universities and skills secretary, said the government should fund more places on university masters courses.
He said: "Universities need emergency help this year to take on more graduates."
David Lammy, the universities minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said the government was making more loans available for postgraduate students and setting up a national internship scheme.
Reader views (3)
Unemmployed graduates need to get together and demand that the government and employers give us better treatment. That goes for graduates at any age or stage in their career.If there is a gap between the skills employers want then provide training. Provide a quality graduate/professional service in the Job Centres. Don't waste the talent or leave graduates unemployed. If you do then, sooner or later, some people are going to start getting angry. Politically.
- Luke, Nottingham
Graduates have had a tough time for 20 years. Increasingly, there are too many graduates casing too few vacancies, it is even worse with the introduction of top up fees. Out of London it is even worse, the transport is huge for living in London. It all depends on one's personal circumstances.
The government does not care ! No one supports graduates well in the UK. A person is over-qualified for many non-graduate jobs. I want to go abroad. There is too few opportunities in the UK. There are ridiculous selection procedures, jobs that increasingly require experience and fierce competition, recession or no recession. I fear for the future in the country. What is the future for the next generation, massive poverty ?
- Ahmed, Guildford, UK
It's that old joke:"what does a graduate say at work?"
Answer:"Do you want fries with that?"
We have seen this all before.
- Jimfred, London UK
