Graduate jobs market 'is strong'
12/08/2008(13:00)
The graduate jobs market is still strong, according to recent figures.
Data from the annual Higher Education Statistics Agency survey shows that there has been a fall in the unemployment rate for graduates, showing that students are still in demand in the job market.
Some 5.6 per cent of graduates were unable to find work six months after leaving university in 2007, compared with 6.1 per cent the previous year.
This is the lowest graduate unemployment rate for five years.
In particular, courses which lead directly to specific careers, such as medicine or dentistry, had the lowest unemployment rates.
Those with higher degree grades are also less likely to be unemployed, according to the survey.
Commenting on these findings, higher education minister Bill Rammell said: "These latest figures show that graduate job prospects continue to improve as more and more employers require the wide range of skills that graduates bring to their business."
In related news, the universities secretary recently stated that many graduates would have been better off enrolling in an apprenticeship rather than going to university.
John Denham said that people should consider advanced apprenticeships as many graduates end up in non-graduate careers.
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