HESA medium-term graduate employability statistics

Commenting on the HESA statistics, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of universities, said:

“These statistics are further evidence of the positive relationship between attending a Russell Group university and employment or further study. Our graduates are more likely to be employed six months after graduating and least likely to be unemployed three years later.
 
“Ten of the top 30 universities in the world as ranked by employers are Russell Group universities and our members dominate the target list for the top graduate employers in Britain. Our graduates also earn much more, on average, than those from other universities. That’s why there are seven applications for every place across our universities – and many more for some courses.
 
“We also welcome the finding that nearly 12% of graduates of Russell Group universities have gone on to further study and that numbers of graduates engaged in further study continue to increase.  Postgraduates are critically important to the economy and for the longer-term health of the sector.”
 
Notes to Editors

1. 2.1% of 2008/9 Russell Group leavers surveyed are assumed unemployed, compared to a sector wide average of 3.4%. 79.2% are in work, with 5.4% in work and further study, and 11.7% in further study.
2. Men and women who graduate from Russell Group universities earn on average 16% or 9% more respectively than graduates from a new university (BIS).
3. According to the statistics released by HESA today, 80.6% of 2008/09 Russell Group leavers surveyed were earning over £21,000.