Press release: NUS responds to HESA statistics on graduate employment

NUS (National Union of Students) today (17 July) welcomed the high employment rates among recent graduates, but expressed concern about the fact that black graduates are less likely to find work than white graduates. The figures were released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

NUS Vice President for Higher Education, Aaron Porter, said "It is good news that almost 94 per cent of graduates are working within 6 months of leaving university, and we hope that this will encourage more people to enter higher education. We are, however, particularly concerned that black graduates are less likely to find work within six months than white graduates.

“These statistics offer a useful indication of graduate employability, but it would be helpful to have more detailed figures about employment a few years after graduation, with more information about the types of jobs being undertaken and whether they are 'graduate-level’ jobs."

Notes to editors:

• The HESA stats show that 94.5% of white graduates had found employment, compared to 88.2 per cent of black graduates and 90.2 per cent of asian graduates
• The full results can be found at the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) website www.hesa.ac.uk
• NUS Press Office: 020 7380 6604 /
  07866 695 010