Job situation tougher despite students believing they have the skills
23 October 2012
New research shows that the ’overwhelming majority’ leave university with employability skills, but question marks remain as to whether they will get jobs.
Mon, 23 Jan 2012New research shows that the ’overwhelming majority’ leave university with employability skills, but question marks remain as to whether they will get jobs.
Research by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) reveals that more than 80% of students who completed three-year degrees felt that they had the skills employers sought, but 84% felt that it was more difficult than ever to find work.
The Futuretrack study is tracking more than 50,000 students from UCAS application until two years after graduating. The third stage of the research surveyed how third-year students felt about their readiness for the world of work.While 10% believed that the skills they developed on their course had not made them more employable and 6% said they didn’t possess the skills employers sought, almost three quarters felt that the overall university experience had made them more employable, and more than 80% said it had enhanced their social and intellectual capabilities.
Jane Artess, research director at HECSU, says: “Students were more likely to believe that they had skills employers were looking for than they were to believe the skills they developed on their course had made them more employable, reflecting a realistic evaluation of the current economic climate.”
Research by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) reveals that more than 80% of students who completed three-year degrees felt that they had the skills employers sought, but 84% felt that it was more difficult than ever to find work.
The Futuretrack study is tracking more than 50,000 students from UCAS application until two years after graduating. The third stage of the research surveyed how third-year students felt about their readiness for the world of work.While 10% believed that the skills they developed on their course had not made them more employable and 6% said they didn’t possess the skills employers sought, almost three quarters felt that the overall university experience had made them more employable, and more than 80% said it had enhanced their social and intellectual capabilities.
Jane Artess, research director at HECSU, says: “Students were more likely to believe that they had skills employers were looking for than they were to believe the skills they developed on their course had made them more employable, reflecting a realistic evaluation of the current economic climate.”
