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Graduate Jobs Outnumber Unqualified Vacancies

25 Apr 2013

Graduate Jobs Outnumber Unqualified Vacancies

Although it’s no breaking news that competition for graduate jobs is still fierce, new research has shown that the number of graduate jobs in the United Kingdom is currently higher than the number of vacancies for a which no qualifications are required.

The findings in the new Skills and Employment Survey, which has been financed by UK Commission for Employment and Skills in conjunction with the Economic and Social Research Council, reveals that over 25 per cent of new vacancies in the UK are now available exclusively to graduates. In contrast, only 23 per cent of current jobs require no qualifications at all in order for applicants to be considered for the role.

Over 3,000 people were studied in the report and the results also suggest that the number of university leavers being forced to accept non-graduate jobs is also on the decline. The number of degree holders in a graduate job has edged up from 69 per cent to 74 per cent in the last seven years according to the report.

The Confederation of British Industry's director of education and skills, Neil Carberry, said of the survey’s implications: “The vast majority of young people in future are going to need a route to higher skills if the UK is going to compete globally. The changing face of the economy means that we have to expand alternative routes to higher skills alongside traditional residential university courses.”

Mr Carberry added that more also needed to be done below degree level to boost the number of skilled technicians coming into industry. He advocates strong relationships between universities, colleges and businesses to make sure that young people have access to a better standard of industry-relevant courses.


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