New study shows more graduates are entering professional jobs as graduate prospects continue to improve.
According to a new study by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit, employment prospects for graduates are improving as more graduates enter roles which require a degree. The data shows that graduate employment has improved from the previous year's figures, though it is not yet back at pre-recession levels.
The study reveals 68.2 per cent of graduates from the class of 2014 are working in jobs which require a degree - a two per cent increase from the previous year. Overall, 76.6 per cent of 2014's graduates are now in full time employment, representing a one per cent increase.
According to the "What do graduates do?" study, graduates with backgrounds in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering are the most likely to be employed after six months, at 78.7 per cent and 78.2 per cent respectively. In contrast, Computer Science tops the list of highest unemployment rates at 11.4 per cent.
Charlie Ball, head of Higher Education Intelligence and one of the study's lead researchers, tells The Telegraph the future is looking promising for current students.
"For this year's graduates the outlook is as good as it has been since before the recession, most graduates will get jobs quickly, and the large majority of those jobs will require a university education," he says.
But despite improving prospects, finding a job still requires work, says Charlie.
"...although the graduate jobs market has improved significantly over the last couple of years, that doesn't mean graduates can just walk into a job. They will still have to work hard to get the jobs they want."
University of Birmingham's Director of Student Employability, Eluned Jones, says in The Telegraph the improvements reflect the hard work put in by students and careers advisors alike.
"It's encouraging to see this continued rise in graduate employability and we especially welcome the strong outcomes in students gaining graduate-level employment," she says.
"This demonstrates the commitment of everyone working towards the employability agenda in universities, including careers services, students, academics, professional services and employers - all of whom play a vital part in this journey."