Male graduates pay the price for job search complacency

Unemployment amongst first degree male graduates in their first six months following graduation stands at eight per cent compared to just 4.7 per cent of recent female graduates according to new research findings presented in the latest Graduate Market Trends report released today (Thursday 20 April, 2006) by HECSU, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit.

Rather than face temporary unemployment, female graduates, it seems, prefer to undertake some form of part time paid work immediately post graduation, 8.4 per cent compared to just 6.3 per cent of men. The report also reveals that more female graduates than males take up voluntary unpaid work, combine work with further study, or choose to study full time while considering their employment options.

Commenting on these figures, Mike Hill, chief executive, HECSU said:

ìFemale graduates seem to take a more considered approach to developing employment strategies choosing to gain valuable work experience through part time and voluntary work which will equip them with those soft skills that employers rate so highly. Thanks to their greater initial application, it is women who considerably enhance their employment prospects during those important first few months following graduation.î

But itís not all bad news for men; year on year trends suggest they may actually be improving their act and closing the gap. Whilst unemployment across all recent first degree graduates fell by half a percentage point from 6.6 per cent to just 6.1 per cent, over the previous year, unemployment amongst male graduates fell by 0.7 percentage points from 8.7 per cent to 8 per cent. This compares to women who cut their unemployment rate by just 0.3 percentage points to 4.7 per cent over the same period.

At Masters and PhD levels, recent male graduates are more likely to enjoy full time employment - 67.4 per cent of male Masters graduates being in full time paid work compared to 61.7 of female Masters graduates; and 71.8 per cent of male PhD graduates in full time paid work compared to 65.9 per cent of females. Male graduates are also more likely to be self employed or undertaking freelance work.

Although female first degree graduates were more likely than their male peers to be undertaking further study six months following graduation, a higher percentage of males go on to study full-time for a higher degree or for a professional qualification. Female graduates, on the other hand, were more likely to study for a postgraduate diploma or certificate, including PGCE, or other diploma and certificate.

With the exception of PhD and HND graduates, there were more female graduates than male across all other HE qualifications, and especially PCGE where well over two thirds, 70.8 per cent, were women compared to just 29.2 per cent who were men. Female first degree graduates are also more likely to be older than their male counterparts ñ 16.8 per cent of female first degree holders were over thirty years of age compared to just 11.6 per cent of males.

Gender differences in occupation ñ first degrees

Looking at specific occupations favoured by the different genders, jobs as health professionals and associate professionals is the most popular type of work for female first degree graduates, with one in six, 17.1, per cent, being employed in these roles six months following graduation. This compares to just 6.7 per cent of male graduates who chose to work in these fields. Female first degree graduates were also more likely than their male counterparts to work as education professionals, social and welfare professionals, legal professionals, and marketing, sales and advertising professionals.

First degree male graduates, on the other hand, are more likely than their female counterparts to work as engineering professionals or IT professionals, and are also more likely than their female peers to work as commercial, industrial and public sector managers, and business and financial professionals.

Gender differences in occupation ñ Masters

Well over one in four, 28.9 per cent, of male Masters graduates working in the UK were employed as commercial, industrial and public sector managers six months following graduation. Further, 11 per cent could be found in other professional, associate professional and technical occupations; whilst one in ten, 10.4 per cent, found employment as business and financial professionals.

A fifth of female Masters graduates found work as commercial, industrial and public sector managers; one in seven, 14 per cent, as education professionals; 11.4 per cent in other professional, associate professional and technical occupations; and a further fifth found jobs in either health or social and welfare occupations.

ìDespite their higher overall initial unemployment figure, men do appear to get off to a quicker start in the graduate job market in some careers such as IT. But women neednít feel despondent; often their preferred subjects of study tend to be less immediately vocational and they simply take more time to explore their options and try out different opportunities before committing to a specific career path,î concludes Mike Hill.