Graduates now 'more likely to end up as cleaners', official figures show

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

The number of degree students ending up in low to lower-skilled jobs has grown from 9pc to 17pc over the past 18 years, a fresh analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.

The increase is largely due to the number of people with a degree rising at a faster rate than the number of high-skill jobs available in the UK since 1993, the earliest comparable data, according to the report.

One in five graduates now earn less on average than someone educated to A-level standard, while 15pc earn less than those with GCSE or equivalent-level qualifications, the ONS report showed.

The findings raise fresh questions over whether the UK's education system is fit for purpose, with almost double the number of degree students ending up in lower-skilled jobs in 2010 compared to 1993. The ONS findings show degree students are now more likely to be working as cleaners, postal workers, hotel porters, secretaries and retail assistants compared to 18 years ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8719784/Graduates-now-more-likely-to-end-up-as-cleaners-official-figures-show.html

dtsazza

No surprises there, then.

Giving someone a degree doesn't suddenly make a highly-skilled job appear for them; more graduates doesn't change the job distribution but just pushes down the level where the graduates start.

(And arguably it doesn't really improve their abilities to do highly-skilled work either, in a lot of cases, but that's a different matter.)

MacMickster

So a "toilet paper" degree is likely to lead to a job as a cleaner. Appropriate but costly.

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

And it also means there is fat chance of the coalition ever getting back any of the "student Loans" they are making. Another potential time bomb for generation x and y courtsey of the Baby Boomers.:cool:

Really2

BACKFRMTHEEDGE wrote: »

And it also means there is fat chance of the coalition ever getting back any of the "student Loans" they are making. Another potential time bomb for generation x and y courtsey of the Baby Boomers.:cool:

Does the level they have to repay the loan inflate over time or does it stay at a fixed nominal amount?

Lokolo

Really2 wrote: »

Does the level they have to repay the loan inflate over time or does it stay at a fixed nominal amount?

Stays the same approximately.

The threshold rises with inflation (although this is new).

ukcarper

BACKFRMTHEEDGE wrote: »

And it also means there is fat chance of the coalition ever getting back any of the "student Loans" they are making. Another potential time bomb for generation x and y courtsey of the Baby Boomers.:cool:

Boomers in general or one or two in particular.

Really2

Lokolo wrote: »

Stays the same approximately.

The threshold rises with inflation (although this is new).

Ok cheers. So if it gets out of hand freeze the threshold. Jobs a winner, they will earn enough to pay eventually.

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

ukcarper wrote: »

Boomers in general or one or two in particular.

Oh definitely in general. Intergenerational theft I think it's called.

Percy1983

I will say a degree doesn't make somebody good for work.

I remember where I use to work and we had a volunteer graduate scheme where they worked for use and got work experience (we where a charity I will add), now don't get me wrong many where great, but mnay where also unemployable, cleaver as hell of paper but none of the other life skills where present.

ukcarper

BACKFRMTHEEDGE wrote: »

Oh definitely in general. Intergenerational theft I think it's called.

So what about all the generation Xers who bought houses at give away prices in the 90s.