Using data from official sources, a report published by UK universities found that 15 million people with degrees or equivalent qualifications were working in the UK by the end of 2020 – and almost 16 million in managerial and professional occupations. postgraduate level. The figures are backed by figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which show that while 14% of the UK workforce is overqualified for their current jobs – including graduates working in non-graduate professions – more than 27% classified as “qualified”, including non-graduates fulfilling roles at postgraduate level. The UUK report is an attempt to dispel misconceptions about graduate employment, such as that undergraduate degrees may be of poor value or that too many graduates may not be able to find specialist work. However, demand for graduates remained high during the Covid pandemic, according to the Student-Employer Institute. He states that the number of vacancies for graduates is now 20% higher than before the pandemic in 2019. Vacancies for graduates are expected to increase again this year compared to 2021. Professor Steve West, President of UUK and Vice President of UWE-Bristol, said: “Despite questioning the value of graduate skills, this report shows that employer demand for UK graduates is significant – it has grown year by year. and is likely to increase in the future. “It is important that the UK Government develops the right conditions for universities to fully support business development and skills development for students of all ages. To be clear, this means that the UK Government must invest in a sustainable long-term funding solution for higher education. “ Michelle Donelan, the Minister for Higher Education for England, said the data “show how important higher education and skills are for the future of the United Kingdom”. Donelan said the government was “promoting the biggest education reform in 18 years in a decade” in England. “We aim to further improve the results of postgraduate studies and continue to improve quality to provide higher quality education for students from all walks of life,” he said. Recent government proposals include increasing the cost of undergraduate student loans for students in the UK, so low- and middle-income people will likely have to find an extra .000 30,000 to repay their loans from next year. The government is also consulting on introducing the minimum GCSEs required to qualify for student loans, which critics say would greatly deter some graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds from pursuing higher education. The UUK report shows that the number of employees in occupational occupations in the UK increased by 647,200 in 2020, while those in other roles decreased by 817,000 in the first year of the pandemic. Stephen Isherwood, CEO of the Institute of Student Employers, said: “Both in the short and long term, the demand for qualified graduates is growing. “To ensure that employers can access the talent they need throughout the UK economy, it is imperative that we continue to invest in graduate talent.”
