First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2003-04

December 7 2005 - Four out of 5 new graduates from Scottish universities and colleges are taking jobs in Scotland - and 90% of Scottish graduates are doing so. Higher Education Graduates and Graduate Destinations 2003/2004 statistics show that an increasing proportion of students from other areas of the UK coming to Scotland to study find initial employment in the Scottish job market after graduation.

Deputy Minister for Lifelong Learning Allan Wilson commented:

"The number of students graduating successfully from Scottish institutions is up by around 2,000 this year to more than 65,000. This good news is strengthened by the fact that we are producing a significant number of graduates at all levels in a wide range of disciplines.

"Skilled graduates at all levels and across all industries are vital in supporting the Executive's number one priority of growing the economy.

"Not only are many of our own talented young people staying here to enter employment after graduation but significant numbers of students from other countries are choosing Scottish-based jobs to launch their careers.

"I am particularly pleased to see the number of science graduates go up in the latest year. It is great news for Scotland that our young people see science as an exciting career, as the sector will be a key driver of economic growth in the future."

First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2000-01

January 24 2003 - This study is based on information collected from 32,283 graduates and diplomates from full-time higher education in Scotland in 2000-01.

Main findings:

* 56 per cent) had obtained permanent or temporary employment in the UK. Another 3 per cent obtained employment overseas.

* Three in 10 graduates and diplomates continued in full-time study.

* 51 per cent of all students who obtained a sub-degree level qualification continued in full-time study.

* Students who qualified in Maths and Computing were most likely to continue in full-time education. More than 6 in 10 students who qualified in Education or Subjects Allied to Medicine obtained permanent UK employment. Almost 8 in 10 Medicine and Dentistry graduates found temporary UK employment in 2000-01.

* Graduates and diplomates from Language courses were most likely to obtain overseas employment with 12 per cent doing so. They were followed by graduates from Agriculture (6 per cent).

* Of those students gaining permanent UK employment after qualifying in 2000-01, 27 per cent gained employment in the Health Social and Community Work sector, with 24 per cent gaining employment in the Finance sector.

* Of those graduates and diplomates who gained overseas or permanent UK employment after qualifying in 2000-01, 76 per cent gained employment in Scotland.

First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 1998-99

2 November 2000 - Statistics on first destination of graduates and diplomates from higher education in Scotland in 1998-99 were published today. This updates and provides more detail on initial findings published in November 1999. The statistics are based on information collected from 34,372 graduates and diplomates from higher education in Scotland in 1998-99.

Main findings:

* 53 per cent of respondents had permanent or temporary employment in the UK. Another 4 per cent obtained work abroad.

* Postgraduate students were more likely to take jobs abroad than those with other qualifications.

* Unemployment among graduates and diplomates stayed at a historically low level: just 4 per cent in 1998-99.

* Three in every ten graduates and diplomates remained in full-time study. More than half of HND and other sub-degree level qualifications stayed on in full-time study.

* Those with qualifications in Mathematics and Computing were most likely to reamin as full-time students.

* Very nearly 7 in 10 of those who qualified in 'Subjects Allied to Medicine' got permanent jobs in the UK.

* Not surprisingly students from Language courses were most likely (11%) to get jobs abroad. Next came Agriculture graduates (8%) and Humanities (7%).

* But of all the people who got permanent jobs a massive 70% stayed in Scotland - a rise of 3% over the previous year.

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