Graduate Unemployment

John Fairest

The Facts
The Office of National Statistics

Newspaper Quotes
Ratio's
Daily MailFigures from the Office for National Statistics show that 25.9 per cent of 16-year-olds who left school with as little as one
GCSE at grade C or above are currently unemployed. The situation is almost identical for a 21-year-old graduate. Despite having A-levels and a degree, 24.8 per cent are unemployed. Guardian

Although the prospects for graduates may not be as gloomy as they first appear, the ONS figures make grim reading for young job seekers. The ONS said unemployment for those aged 16 to 24 stood at just over 1m in the last quarter of 2011, the highest number since 1986/87. This represented one in seven (or 14.2%) of this age group and is the highest rate of youth unemployment since 1984/85. Of these, 307,000 were full-time students actively looking for work alongside their studies. London was the region with the highest youth unemployment rate, with 24% of economically active 16- to 24-year-olds unemployed from July 2010 to June 2011. However, the ONS said this was a result of the number of students in the capital, some of who were looking to work. When students are discounted, the highest proportion of youth unemployment was in the north-east at 15%.

Comments on-line
Graduate Fog
The

average graduate stays in their first job after university for just a year and a half, new research has revealed. Of the 42% who left their job less than 18 months after starting, one in five quit after just six months.

The research involving 2,000 graduates from the last ten years supports growing anecdotal evidence suggesting the nature of graduate job hunting has shifted hugely in the last decade. No longer are graduates picking a career aged 21 and then just ploughing on with it (thank God talk about dull). Todays graduates are prepared to chop and change until they find a career that fits.

Graduate unemployment figures show government must act now to stop youth jobs crisis
The TUC's Brendan Barber said- These figures show how hard young people have been hit by the jobs crisis.

Nearly one million young people are unemployed, and almost twice as many graduates are now out of work compared to before the recession. 'So far the government's only response has been to cut funding for the Young Person's Guarantee - which provided support to unemployed young people including graduates - and replace it with a scheme that offers eight weeks' unpaid work experience and isn't even available to university leavers.

Students Union
HECSUs annual, What Do Graduates Do? reports the destinations of full and part-time first degree graduates, six months after leaving university in 2010: 284,160 students graduated in 2010 with a first degree a 3.6% increase on last year 69.7% (163,090 graduates) were in employment a 7.9% increase on 2009 graduates Unemployment has gone down from 8.9% to 8.5% (19,785 graduates) Record number (100,265 or 63.4%) secured graduate level jobs a 9.2% increase The figures show recovery in business and financial services with 7.5% of graduates working in these occupations, the same as that recorded in 2008. Marketing, sales and advertising was the occupational group that saw the largest percentage jump in graduates in 2010. 31% more graduates entered these roles in 2010 compared to the previous year, fuelled by an upturn in graduate recruitment in advertising and digital media

After reporting poor employment prospects for architecture and building management graduates in the 2009 and 2010 editions of What Do Graduates Do?, the 2011 edition reports an improvement with 73.2% in employment and a decrease in unemployment - from 10.9% in 2010 to 9.5%. More architecture and building management graduates found work this year as quantity surveyors, building surveyors, architectural technicians and assistants and town planners. Charlie Ball, deputy research director at HECSU says: While graduate unemployment has fallen, it remains high in comparison to levels reported at the beginning of the recession and graduates still face stiff competition - not just from their peers but also from more recent graduates. Slow but sustained economic recovery should be mirrored in the graduate labour market but developments over the next few months will need to be closely monitored. Many parts of the graduate employment market remain fragile, and recovery has not spread to all sectors or regions of the country. The jobs market for graduates is still vulnerable to bad economic weather and a continued recovery cannot be guaranteed in the current climate. The cuts in public spending are already having an impact on the number of graduates securing work in the sector. There is no major decline in the numbers of graduates working as nurses, doctors, and primary and secondary school teachers, but the clerical and secretarial posts in local government and the public administration and defence sector have been affected this year, dropping from 7.9% to 6.8% of graduates employed. Reflecting salaries across the economy, graduate earnings remain flat. The average salary ranges from 17,720 to 23,335 with London reporting the highest average salary at 22,480. Scotland saw the highest annual increase from 19,965 in 2009 to 20,300 in 2010.

Direct Gov-graduate page

Direct Gov offer this link

Bamr
Get 'Moving on': a guide to employability for black, Asian and minority ethnic

(BAME) students
and graduates

Graduate Talent Pool

In a difficult job market, it's more important than ever to look at all the options that could help improve your employability. As well as internships, options for graduates include: postgraduate study setting up your own business volunteering teaching through the Teach First programme short Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

Next steps Find out how to apply for internships on Graduate Talent Pool

Search for current internships More options after graduation

Getting a Graduate Job 1

Getting a Graduate Job 2

Post Graduate Study

Graduate Placements & Internships

Parents Encouragement
Helps
How you & your son/daughter are feeling How to motivate, not alienate Understanding the different options Finding paid work and experience Unpaid options - to increase employability Case study Ask the experts Next steps - the action steps to getting a job! Further reading and useful links for your graduate 13-15 8-9 10 11-12 5 6-7 2 3-4

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Tough Times for young people

Youth Graduate Voice

Recruitment and Diversity

Radio 4 Interview with a Recruiter

CBI
In an increasingly competitive employment market, employers are looking beyond simple academic achievement when considering applicants for a job or internship
Many now expect to see evidence of other skills and achievements that boost someone's attractiveness as a potential employee Businesses want graduates who not only add value but who have the skills to help to transform their organisation in the face of continuous and rapid economic and technological change. All graduates - whatever their degree discipline - need to be equipped with employability skills. Employability covers a broad range of non-academic or softer skills and abilities which are of value in the workplace. It includes the ability to work in a team; a willingness to demonstrate initiative and original thought; self-discipline in starting and completing tasks to deadline. Future fit-A pdf download file

The Future
The Ons and Media will continue to produce statistics and the politicians will continue to argue the Future But its down to Students to " Create their own Future" All we can do is work together john.fairest@cjss.org Skype Fishersupport jf@onthedole.com