Uni graduates’ job prospects up, but course satisfaction slumps

Sydney Morning Herald – Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 GMT – 0

Most university students are finding full-time work within months of graduating, but are increasingly unhappy with their study experience.

The latest data from a major annual survey of graduate outcomes and sentiments reveals a mixed report card for Australian universities.

University graduates are enjoying the healthiest jobs market in several years. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Employment rates among university graduates have climbed back to their highest level in more than a decade following two years of COVID-affected lows.

But student satisfaction with university coursework slumped to its lowest point in 12 years, as the pandemic continued to disrupt and compromise the study experience.

The federal education department’s QILT graduate outcomes survey for 2022, released on Monday, fielded responses from more than 130,000 graduates who completed their studies in the past four to six months.

According to the survey, the full-time employment rate among recent domestic university graduates increased almost 10 percentage points, from 68.9 per cent in 2021 to 78.5 per cent last year.

Employment rates have risen for university graduates, but student satisfaction with coursework has slumped.

The rise was strongest in the humanities and social sciences, which jumped 15 percentage points to 72.9 per cent.

The humanities were targeted in the former Morrison government’s Job Ready Graduates university fee reforms, under which student contributions were jacked up by 113 per cent as the generalist study field was deemed of low national priority.

The reforms are under review.

The fields of study with the best full-time employment prospects for graduates last year were rehabilitation (96.5 per cent), pharmacy (96.2 per cent) and medicine (93 per cent).

Pharmacy provides one of the best full-time employment prospects for university graduates.Credit:Louie Douvis

Graduates in the creative arts (57.3 per cent) and tourism, hospitality, sport and recreation (65.1 per cent) reported the lowest full-time employment rates.

“This year’s [graduate outcomes survey] findings suggest that the acute impact of COVID-19 on recent graduates’ employment opportunities has now passed,” Lisa Bolton, QILT research and strategy director said.

Bolton said there was a substantial increase in the full-time employment rate for both domestic and international undergraduates.

The full-time employment rate for international students was significantly lower at 57.7 per cent, but nevertheless a big leap from the 2021 figure of just 43 per cent.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said graduates’ skills were in demand, and the results were a timely reminder that a university education set a student up for a bright and fulfilling future.

“Domestic and international graduates are securing full-time work in fields we need the most, including in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), health and teaching,” Jackson said.

But the survey results were less positive about the student experience at university, with undergraduate coursework satisfaction rates at 77.4 per cent, their lowest level in more than a decade, and 80 per cent among postgraduates.

The survey report noted the decline in satisfaction “may continue to reflect disruption to the study experience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic”, but also that it showed universities might need to improve their interactions with students.

Dentistry provides the highest salaries for graduates, but the lowest satisfaction for university coursework. Credit:Quentin Jones

Dentistry students reported by far the lowest satisfaction levels – with just 54.8 per cent for undergraduates and 44.4 for postgraduates – but also the highest graduate salaries at $100,000.

By Adam Carey

Uni graduates’ job prospects up, but course satisfaction slumps

Study In Australia

Options

Search Blogs

Archive

Uni graduates’ job prospects up, but course satisfaction slumps

Study In Australia

Options

Search Blogs

Archive

Get Help In Enquiry and Application Hub