The Link between Education and Employment in the UK
The figures for people in further education in the UK are impressive. According to theBritish Council, approximately 1.8 million students are enrolled in the higher education system, which means that about a third of 18 year olds go on to university or some other form of further education. There are also a number of mature students who, after working for some years, decide to go back to school either online or in person. The reason for this seems obvious; the recession and higher unemployment levels have persuaded people that they need extra qualifications to ensure a good job. However, this does not always work out as planned. In May 2011, theBBCreported that research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research shows around 40% of 2010 graduates were ‘under-employed’ – that is to say not in graduate jobs. That is an increase of 10% over 2006 figures. This is likely to increase; 55% of 2011’s graduates are expected to end up ‘under-employed’ or even unemployed six months after graduation.
When it comes to understanding how education, particularly higher education, has impacted finding work in the UK, the following factors need to be taken into consideration:
Lack of jobs
TheApril unemployment ratefor over 16s in the UK was 7.7%, which was down 0.3% on the previous quarter. Nevertheless, this takes some time to filter through to companies who may or may not be hiring. TheDaily Mailreported that a survey of the top 100 recruiting agencies in 2009 showed that graduate jobs had been cut by over 25% and, until such a time that the job market is steadier, the cuts are likely to continue. Unfortunately, with the high overall unemployment rate, there are a number of experienced job seekers in the market who are more likely to appeal to employers than a recent graduate. That isn’t to say that education isn’t important, but with the rise of graduates with work experience in the market, they are bound to have an edge over those without.
High tuition fees
For many graduates without work experience, the need to find a job with a good salary is important, because of the debts that they have accrued during their time in education. This situation is only going to worsen now that tuition fees could be as much as£9000 a yearin some circumstances. Starting their working life with a massive debt hanging over their heads puts a lot of pressure on graduates to find work and, ultimately, could result in students deciding not to go to university at all – especially if graduate unemployment continues to increase.
Unrealistic expectations
It is a widely held belief, substantiated by parents and school teachers, that a good education is synonymous with a good job. Unfortunately, with so many high school and college graduates having similarly good results, competition is tight and education alone is no longer enough to secure a good job. That isn’t to say that students shouldn’t aim for good results; rather that they need to realise that there are other factors that come into play, such as part-time job experience and extra-curricular activities. Some schools prioritise education to the extent that they miss out on developing the rounder characters of their students and, if not addressed, this will continue into university careers. Students also need to accept that a good qualification will not necessarily result in immediate high-paying employment; they may need to accept lower-paying jobs, at least to begin with.
Choosing the wrong subject
Certain subjects naturally lead to a higher likelihood of finding a job after graduation. A2010 BBC reportstated that medical graduates had an unemployment rate of 0%, followed by education at 5% and law at 6%. However, graduates of computer science and communications were much higher at 17% and 14% respectively. It is an easy to make the presumption that technical subjects are likely to lead to a better chance of getting a job, but it obviously isn’t always the case – and the problem is that the longer the graduates are out of employment, the rustier and less up-to-date that their skills become. Students need help in researching the best subjects before they start a college course – and that begins while they are still at school.
Despite constant criticism, the education system in the UK is an excellent one. However, there is always need for improvement and one aspect that particularly needs improving is the preparation of students for the job market.
