Employment prospects remain very bright for graduates, despite the downturn in the economy, according to new figures.
But an increasing number of graduates are working overseas or remaining on in study. Some 12 per cent of those in work shortly after graduation are in jobs abroad.
A record number of 42,242 undergraduate and postgraduate awards were made in 2002. The figure represents an increase of over 100 per cent on the 1992 figure, a figure which reflects the huge expansion in third-level education during that time.
Unemployment remains very low among graduates. Just over 3 per cent were still seeking employment six to nine months after receiving their qualifications.
Over half of the class of 2002 were in employment. The percentage pursuing further studies/training has risen marginally to 42 per cent.
These are some of the key findings drawn from the annual survey by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The report presents a "snap-shot" picture of where those who received awards in 2002 were placed shortly after graduation.
As usual, employment prospects for graduates are much better than for the overall economy. While unemployment nationally reached over 5 per cent in the year to last August, just over 3 per cent of graduates were seeking employment.
Last night, the HEA chairman, Dr Don Thornhill, said the performance of Irish graduates in the labour market was encouraging, despite the more challenging economic background. "The higher education institutions have responded to the challenge of ensuring that Ireland can move in the direction of becoming a knowledge society by more than doubling the output of graduates from 20,500 in 1992 to over 42,000 in 2002. It is encouraging that of this number, over 7,400 received postgraduate awards," he said.
According to the latest research, over 56 per cent of primary degree holders and over three-quarters of higher degree holders had secured jobs by April of last year, less than a year after graduation. These figures are only slightly down on last year's, despite the economic downturn.
Slightly more students are staying on to pursue further study or other training. About one-third of all primary degree holders are doing this.
Among primary degree holders in employment, over 12 per cent were working abroad. Almost one in five of those who received higher degrees were working abroad. A feature of the report is the high employment levels among those with primary teaching qualifications. Virtually all of those with the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Teaching are in employment.
