Statistics published today (30 June) by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will make for encouraging reading for graduates from Scottish universities.
The statistics show more graduates from Scottish universities are likely to go on to positive destinations than from universities in the rest of the UK and are, on average, higher earners. Graduates from Scottish universities are also less likely to find themselves out of work – as those assumed to be unemployed is 2 per cent lower than the UK average.
Alastair Sim, Director, Universities Scotland said:
“I’m delighted to see that prospects for graduates from Scottish universities are the strongest in the UK. These results stand testament to the fact that Scotland’s universities produce graduates of the highest calibre, ready to take their place in the workforce. This is a particular credit to the graduates themselves who have worked hard to apply the skills acquired at university to the wider world of work. The recession has hit all young people especially hard over the last few years and graduates have not been immune from this but it’s clear from today’s results that employers really value the contribution Scottish graduates can make to their business.”
The statistics, published annually, show the destinations of graduates from 2009/10 within a year of gaining their qualifications. The statistics below relate to graduates from first degree courses:
- Graduates from Scottish universities are least likely to be unemployed: rate of assumed unemployment 7% for Scottish graduates compared to 9% in UK and 9% in England.
- Graduates from Scottish universities most likely to be in positive destinations (which includes employment, further study and combination of work and further study): 88% graduates from Scotland in positive destination compared to 86% for graduates from English universities.
- Graduates from Scottish universities report the highest average salaries within a year of graduation at £21,000 compared to UK average of £20,000.
Notes
- HESA’s DESTINATIONS OF LEAVERS FROM HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2009/10 are published to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
- You can access the full data set from HESA at this link: www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2150&Itemid=161