UCU comment on rising graduate unemployment figures

The figures, released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), show that 3.6% of students who graduated in 2007 are assumed to be unemployed three and a half years later. Only 2.6% of students who left university in 2005, and 2% of those who graduated in 2003, were assumed to be unemployed three and a half years later.

Other findings from the class of 2007 include:

• 70.4% thought their course had been good value for money
• 76.5% said their university experience had prepared them well for their career
• 85.4% of those in employment said their qualification had been helpful, important or necessary to get their current job.

University and College Union general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'While it is encouraging that the majority of the class of 2007 recognise the value and worth of their degree, it is worrying that the number of graduates assumed to be unemployed has risen.

'The jobs market is now even tougher and new students entering a system with the highest public university fees in the world deserve better prospects. The countries investing in graduates and high skills are the ones who will prosper in long run.'

More details can be found at www.hesa.ac.uk/pr165.