Graduates from the University of Nottingham are among the most sought-after in the UK by employers, new Government data has revealed.
Importantly for the university’s graduates and prospective students, the most recent LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes) data shows that the university leads the Russell Group universities, with 91.1% of its graduates in sustained employment or further study at both 3 and 5 years after graduation.
The data also highlights that, at £27,000, University of Nottingham graduates have the 2nd highest salaries one year after graduating among all non-London/non-Oxbridge Russell Group institutions and the highest median salaries one year after graduating among all East Midlands institutions.
The news comes as analysis by Universities UK of the LEO data, which looks at UK first degrees at three and five years after graduation, has demonstrated that those who chose to attend university earn significantly more than those who didn’t, irrespective of the region they are from, and highlights a new perspective on opportunities for graduates, including those in the East Midlands.
- By age 31 graduates from the East Midlands earn 37% more than non-graduates from the same region.
- In the East Midlands region graduates can earn up to 96% more compared to other employees in Accommodation and food service activities, up to 36% more in Human health and social work activities, up to 34% more in arts, entertainment and recreation and up to 33% more in wholesale and retail trade.
- This money benefits graduates’ wider communities, and the country as a whole – based on recent analysis, graduate skills, are estimated to have an economic impact of £95 billion nationwide in 2021-2 – and £7 billion in the East Midlands.
- There is also a clear trend across the country – that those regions with more graduates are more productive, driving economic growth.
- The industries of the future, those that the government has set out as driving growth over the next decade, are heavily dependent on graduate skills- including the creative sector (76%), Professional and business services (74%) and life science sector (73%).
This analysis shows that a degree allows graduates from all regions to earn more. These graduates are driving growth for the country, and will be the backbone of those areas the government have set out as delivering growth and opportunity to local economies.
The LEO data follows other examples which show Nottingham as one of the leading institutions for graduate employability. According to HESA Graduate Outcomes data published this year, which is a classification of full-time, UK graduates entering work in the UK from 2018/19 to 21/22, Nottingham was number one for graduates securing graduate-level jobs, which tend to have higher starting salaries. 2024 was the fourth year running that more University of Nottingham graduates entered highly-skilled employment than any other UK university.
The University of Nottingham was also was second in the Russell Group in the Rate My Placement Best Universities for Work Experience 2024 and third most-targeted university in the UK overall in the Graduate Market in 2024 High Fliers Report.
Pauline Maden, Director of Careers and Employability at the University of Nottingham, said:
“We’re very proud of the graduate outcomes our alumni continue to achieve. Their success in entering highly skilled work is testament to their knowledge and ability, alongside the outstanding academic and extra-curricular support they receive whilst at the University of Nottingham.
“To be one of the leading institutions in the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes data is a significant achievement for the university. It demonstrates how well we prepare our students and graduates for life after higher education and is also a great reflection on the employers we partner with to source internships, placements and graduates opportunities.
“Our jobs board, MyCareer, is one of the busiest in the UK, with 8,035 adverts placed by UK and global businesses last year. Those adverts provided tens of thousands of job opportunities for Nottingham students and graduates.
“Since 2018, the University of Nottingham has seen more graduates enter highly skilled work than any other UK institution and our work experience opportunities – such as placement years, internships and consultancy challenges – continue to grow.”
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, FRSE, President of Universities UK, said:
“Those of us who work in universities witness the transformative power of higher education every day, and it is compelling to see this borne out so strongly in this analysis. But this data shows something new – universities are anchors for growth right across the UK. As well as contributing to their local area through the money they spend while studying, graduates go on to meet the needs of local industries and to earn more. This new analysis gives a clear message to government, local and mayoral authorities that thriving universities in every part of the country are central to the prospects for individuals and communities.”
For more information about graduate employment at the University of Nottingham, visit https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/why-study/employability.aspx
Posted on 21 November 2024
