Masters graduates fared better in the early days of the recession than those leaving university with their first degree, research suggested today.
The unemployment rate for students who graduated with a masters in 2008 stood at 4.1%, up from 3.7% in the previous year, an analysis of official figures by Hecsu, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, shows.
In comparison, unemployment amon
g first degree graduates in 2008 stood at 7.9%, a 2.4 percentage point increase on 2007, according to Hecsu figures published last November.
But the report warns that masters students graduating last year and this year are likely to face a tougher time in the job market.
The researchers analysed data published by the Higher Education
Statistics Agency (Hesa) to look at what 32,195 masters-level graduates were doing in January 2009, six months after graduation.
The findings show that those who had studied for a masters part-time
were less likely to be unemployed than those who had studied for the qualification full-time.
The unemployment rate for part-time masters graduates was 2.2% compared with 5.8% for full-time masters students.
The study, What Do Masters Graduates Do? says: "There were signs of recession in the job market for masters graduates from 2007/8, with an increase in unemployment from 3.7% to 4.1%. The unemployment rate for new masters graduates was higher for 2003/4 and 2004/5 graduates.
"Compared to the increase in unemployment for first degree graduates over the same time period, this cohort seem to have been less affected. As a result, it is likely the full effects of the economic downturn will be more apparent for masters graduates from 2008/9 and 2009/10."
