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Tougher times for graduates with a third more out of work
Tim Ross2 Jul 2009
STUDENTS are facing a jobs crisis after graduate unemployment soared by a third.
Official figures suggested that 21,000 graduates who finished first degrees last year were still out of work six months after leaving university.
One in three in work could only find jobs in bars, shops and other non-graduate fields after their finals, the Higher Education Statistics Agency said.
The figures marked more dire news for this year's graduates. They face mounting debts from tuition fees of more than £3,000 a year, amid warnings that employers are cutting back on recruitment in the recession.
Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said the class of 2009 faces a desperate outlook. "These figures foretell the crisis awaiting graduates this summer," he said.
The figures, for UK graduates six months after leaving university last year, showed:
Eight per cent of full-time first degree graduates were believed to be unemployed last year, up from six per cent in 2007.
34.5 per cent of graduates were in non-graduate jobs, up from 33.1 per cent in 2007.
Average starting salaries crept up by just £500 per year to £20,500 for those lucky enough to find paid work.
Media studies and computer science had some of the highest jobless rates, with more than one in 10 graduates out of work.
Shadow universities secretary David Willetts said the figures showed young people were the biggest victims of the recession.
But higher education minister David Lammy insisted a degree was still "a strong investment".
Reader views (3)
I feel so sorry for the young people today. The blair government brought in tuiton fees, whilst he and all his gang studied free. These fees continue to collect interest whilst the children are in uni and even when they leave uni and haven't got a job, the interest collects. It works out roughly about £45 per month and the loan company deducts about 25 per month, thereby the student continues to pay interest for the balance interest and its a vicious cycle. The first thing this government should do is to freeze the interest until the student has got a job and then realise that uni is not for everyone. Money is wasted on many students who have no interest in uni and only go for the grants and drink. If they stop this madness of 50% going to uni, the children who want to study will be able to free of charge. If the scots can do it, why cannot the english also do it. Ooops forgot we are run by the scottish mafia who have no interest in the good of the rest of the UK
- Sandra, ealing, 03/07/2009 09:29
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>>But higher education minister David Lammy insisted a degree was still "a strong investment"
I'm sure he does as he probably got his for free! The whole premise of uni fees was that graduates earn more over their careers. What a con. They also pay more tax when working as a result of earning more so there was no need for uni fees.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 02/07/2009 16:54
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Hardly surprising considering qualifying standards are so much lower today, and some of the courses are so trivial and of little value in a working life.
Lets stop kidding ourselves they are academic, rather than 3 years of entertainment at the state's cost, and get rid of them.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 02/07/2009 14:59
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