Two in five graduates in the South West are working in jobs that don’t need a degree, it has emerged.
Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in 2018, there were 402,499 graduates working in non-graduate roles. That works out as 39.1% of all graduates, up from 38.3% in 2017.
This was the highest proportion since at least 2012, when comparable records began and 36.8% of graduates were working in non-graduate jobs.
A non-graduate role is defined by researchers at the University of Warwick and the University of the West of England as a job that doesn’t normally require “knowledge and skills developed through higher education” to perform the associated tasks competently.
Recent graduates are more likely to be working in jobs that don’t require a degree, according to the ONS figures.
More than half (52%) of recent graduates - those who left full-time education within the previous five years - were not working in graduate roles in 2018.
This was the highest proportion since 2015, when 55.3% of recent graduates were in non-graduate jobs.
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For graduates who left university more than five years before, the proportion in non-graduate roles is also rising. In 2018, 37.5% were in jobs that didn’t need a degree, up from 37% in 2017 and the highest percentage since 2012, when it was 34.6%.
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Across the 海角视频, 37.5% of graduates were doing a job that doesn’t require knowledge and skills developed on a three-year university degree. That is the highest proportion since at least 2012.
The rise is being driven by more non-recent graduates in non-graduate jobs. The proportion of non-recent graduates in such roles has risen from 33.3% in 2012 to 36.3% in 2018.
Recent graduates are more likely to be in jobs that don’t need a degree, but the proportion has been falling. Nearly half of recent graduates, or 45.2%, were in a non-graduate role in 2018, down from 47.1% in 2017.
This was the lowest proportion since at least 2012, when 50% of recent graduates were in such jobs.
Tom Hadley, director of policy and campaigns at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said: “More and more people are graduating and obtaining qualifications, so competition for graduate jobs is strong.
“Employment is at an all-time high and our research shows there are vacancies across many sectors and skills levels. People’s working preferences are changing too with more people switching careers and choosing more flexible and temporary work to suit their lifestyle. It’s a time of big opportunities and evolving priorities.
“Information is key. Knowing what employers are after can give candidates the edge they need if they are looking to progress their careers. There are over 30,000 recruitment businesses across the 海角视频 which exist to advise people on finding jobs that match their skills and aspirations, and to work with employers to find great candidates as the market transforms.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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“Recruitment professionals are a brilliant resource for people looking to take that next step.”
In November 2018, the Parliamentary Education Committee called on universities and the Government to ensure better outcomes for students; expand degree apprenticeships and make universities more accessible to a more diverse range of students.
The report presented by the committee calls for universities to be more transparent about graduate prospects, in terms of both earnings and destinations.
The committee believes that an increase in graduate outcomes information can support more informed choices for students and make institutions more accountable.