The amount of university graduates that are working or have gone on to further study in the UK, has reached a record high.
But a recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, has revealed that there is an increasing pay gap between male and female graduates – with male university leavers earning considerably more.
The survey completed by 399,345 2014-2015 UK and EU graduates, reveals that in the six months after leaving university, 90 per cent of first degree graduates, had got jobs or were continuing in education. This has resulted in graduate unemployment dropping to 6 per cent.
The survey, carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, shows that 71 per cent of students who left university in 2014-15 were in what’s considered to be professional roles, which is a rise of three per cent.
The survey also covered earnings and showed that the average graduate pay has risen from £21,500 to £22,500.
But the survey did highlight a gender pay gap for 2013-14 graduates. Average salaries for women were £21,000, whereas men’s earnings were £24,000.
Professor Steve West, chair of the University Alliance and vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England, said he felt reassured to see graduate employment finally moving in the right direction. However he is concerned about the impact on these figures in the future, following the UK’s potential exit of the EU.
He said: “Following the result of the EU referendum it is even more important that we improve UK competitiveness and productivity. My hope is that we can mitigate the unintended consequences of Brexit by building the right UK workforce that can tackle many of the high-skill requirements employers’ need.”
