The employment of UK graduates: comparisons with Europe. REFLEX Report to HEFCE No 1 (uses data gathered for a major international study of graduate employment five years after graduation)

Brennan, John and Tang, Win-Yee (2008). The employment of UK graduates: comparisons with Europe. REFLEX Report to HEFCE No 1 (uses data gathered for a major international study of graduate employment five years after graduation). The Flexible Professional in the Knowledge Society – new demands on higher education in Europe; CHERI, The Open University, London.

Abstract

This report explores the differences and similarities of the employment situation between UK and European graduates.

It found that UK graduates have spent less time in higher education, have acquired lower level qualifications, have studied less vocational subjects, have received less work experience through placements or internships, feel less well-prepared for their jobs after graduation and receive more employer-supported training in order to perform them. As well as providing more training, UK employers give more attention to the assessment and supervision of their graduate employees. There is no evidence of serious levels of unemployment among graduates and salary levels are comparable to those achieved by graduates in other countries. A proportion of UK graduates feel ‘overqualified’ for their jobs than do their European counterparts despite, in comparison with the latter, having spent less time in higher education and having achieved a lower level qualification. But there is no strong evidence that employer expectations are not being met. A looser link between one’s studies and one’s subsequent employment may be increasingly desirable. The division of labour between higher education institutions and employer organisations in equipping (and re-equipping) the workforce with necessary knowledge and skills may indeed be changing as a result of the changing pace and location of knowledge production.

In general, this report suggests that, in comparison with other European countries, UK higher education is a) still more about selection than about socialisation/training, and b) still more about a broad liberal education than about preparation for a particular job. These reflect distinctive traditions within UK higher education as well as distinctive features of UK society. Of course, both may be changing.