UK Graduates looking abroad for employment
Research in the UK has found that 1 in 3 British graduates and final-year university students are considering a move abroad in order to find a job, with over three-quarters saying that the struggle to find work in the UK was the main driving factor. 1,085 recent graduates and final-year university students were surveyed to find out what their intentions were post-degree.
21% of final-year university students said they were considering a Masters degree to complement their education, whilst 67% said they would try to secure employment before looking at further studies. The remainder said they were looking into all options, including taking a gap year.
On average, the university graduates claimed to have applied for between 20-30 jobs each. Just 5% of applications resulted in an interview, according to the research. Graduates claim that just two fifths, 41%, of employers got back in touch with them when they had been unsuccessful post-interview. 34% of graduates said they were looking at jobs abroad, with the majority blaming the lack of opportunity for employment within the UK. Just 1 in 5 graduates had found employment in their chosen career.
78% of respondents who said they were looking at jobs abroad said they would be happy to move to Europe for their career if they could find a suitable opening, whilst 19% said they had looked at vacancies further afield. Sarah Thomas, a final year languages student at Durham University said “My preferred choice would be to secure a graduate role in the UK but if I can’t find what I am looking for then I will definitely be job hunting in Europe.”
Even if only a quarter of these students looking at jobs abroad left for greener pastures, the loss to the British job market would be felt for years to come. It starts with simple courtesy. Less than half of employers inform interviewed candidates when they are unsuccessful, a fact which shows that employers are becoming complacent with the level of applications for roles.
