Bleak picture for graduates facing lack of jobs and higher debt, report finds

It revealed that these students, who graduated in the midst of the economic crisis, found themselves dealing with a tough jobs market.

Higher numbers of graduates looking for work combined with harsh economic conditions led to more graduate unemployment and more graduates in lower skilled jobs, according to a report commissioned by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit.

One in 10 of this group has experienced “significant” periods of unemployment, and for some this could be continuing, it said. Those from black or Asian backgrounds or with a lower degree classification were more likely to be affected.

The Futuretrack report tracked students who started university in autumn 2006, the year top-up fees of up to £3,000 were introduced.

The latest report, based on surveys conducted between November and February, examined how they have fared in the labour market after graduating in 2009 or 2010.

The findings show that 18 or 30 months after graduating, depending on the length of their degree, two in five (40 per cent) were in non-graduate jobs – roles in which they did not think their skills and knowledge were useful.

In comparison, of those who graduated in 1999, one in four (26 per cent) were in non-graduate jobs around 18 months after leaving university, the report said.

It found that students who started in 2006 and graduated in 2009 were likely to have an average debt of £16,000.

Those who left in 1999 had average debts of £7,960, which is equivalent to £10,300 in 2009 when adjusted for inflation. Of those who studied at English universities and left in 2009, almost half (44 per cent) graduated with debts of £20,000 or more.

Just one in six of those graduating in Scotland, where tuition fees were waived, had similar levels of debt, the report said.

Despite facing a lack of jobs and high debt levels, 60 per cent of working graduates surveyed said they were satisfied with their job, around two-thirds were optimistic about future career prospects and 96 per cent said they would still do a degree if they were starting again.

The report, based on surveys of more than 17,000 graduates, also found that doing unpaid work while studying increased a student’s chances of gaining a graduate level job by one and a half times.