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In contrast , the far lower rates of further study were seen in the more vocational fields , with 2.6 per cent in nursing , 4.4 per cent in rehabilitation and 4.6 per cent in teacher education .
Interestingly , the report states that a 22.1 percentage point difference exists between graduates in the short-term who are not enrolled in further full-time study ( 76.3 per cent ), compared with those who are ( 54.2 per cent ). This employment gap persists in the medium-term with fulltime employment rates 91.1 per cent and 72.6 per cent , respectively .
“ We can see a link between study areas with high rates of undergraduates who are still enrolled in further full-time study and lower full-time employment rates ,” Bolton said .
“ This indicates that many of these graduates have not ‘ finished ’ their studies and are either working full-time or looking for full-time employment while also continuing to study full-time .”
The latest GOS-L report also highlighted some disheartening information on the gender salary gap – something that has become an increasingly important issue in all sectors of the workforce .
“ In terms of the gender salary gap in median full-time annual salaries , we see that undergraduate females who completed the GOS-L and were working full-time earned $ 3,000 less than males , or 4.7 per cent in the short term . This salary gap increases over time and three years later the salary gap increases to $ 4,900 or 6.1 percent ,” Bolton added .
POSTGRADUATE OUTCOMES The report found that postgraduate students were more likely to be employed on a full-time basis than their undergraduate counterparts . For instance , 86.6 per cent of postgraduate by coursework graduates are in full-time employment in the short term , rising to 93.3 per cent three years later .
“ Postgraduate coursework study is more often undertaken in conjunction with ongoing employment or in relation to specific career progression compared with undergraduates or postgraduate research students , however the gap in employment rates between these groups narrows considerably over the three years of the survey ,” the GOS-L report said .
“ This group is also less likely to be enrolled in further full-time study after completing their course compared to undergraduates with 8.2 per cent in the short-term and 6.1 per cent three years later .”
GENDER PAY GAP FOR POSTGRADUATES BY COURSEWORK TRUMP THOSE OF UNDERGRADUATES
The latest report shows that male postgraduate students by coursework earned $ 12,000 more than their female counterparts , equating to a 13 per cent discrepancy in the short term . The situation for females with these qualifications declines even further three years later in regard to full-time salaries , with males earning $ 13,600 to $ 15,000 more than females .
SMALLER GENDER PAY GAP FOR POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH GRADUATES
81.4 per cent of those surveyed who were completing a postgraduate qualification by coursework were employed full-time in the short term , increasing to 90.1 per cent by 2020 “ as this cohort established themselves in their careers ”.
Additionally , the gender pay gap between male and female postgraduate research graduates was significantly smaller in this cohort . That said , the gender pay gap increased over time , with male postgraduate research graduates receiving salaries $ 1,200 or 2.2 per cent higher than female counterparts in 2017 four months after graduation . Three years later this gap between males and females widened to $ 4,000 or 3.8 per cent .
RESPONSE FROM UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA
Universities Australia ( UA ), the peak body for the sector , said the graduate full-time employment rate of 88.9 per cent three years after completing their studies shows the market “ remains strong ”.
UA chief executive Catriona Jackson also highlighted that employment outcomes for graduates three years after completing their courses haven ’ t changed much over many years , remaining relatively stable .
“ Graduates continue to enjoy a strong employment advantage as a result of their university education , despite facing a COVID-19 recession and a weakening labour market ,” she said .
“ A university degree remains one of the best investments you can make in life . It
Universities Australia CEO Catriona Jackson . Photo : Kym Smith
expands your horizons and opens the path to well-paid , full-time work , even when the labour market has been doing it tough .
“ A degree represents more than just an insurance policy in difficult economic times – it opens a world of possibilities .” UA also noted that , while COVID-19 had an immediate impact on graduates ’ employment prospects in 2020 , mediumterm results are more optimistic . For instance , the full-time employment rate three years out from graduation was 88.9 per cent , while the corresponding figure in 2020 surprisingly rose to 90.1 per cent .
“ The latest survey also shows the median salary of university graduates in full-time work three years after finishing their studies is $ 77,000 . This compares with $ 62,100 four months after graduation ,” Jackson added .
ABOUT THE 2021 GRADUATE OUTCOMES SURVEY – LONGITUDINAL ( GOS-L )
Data for the 2021 GOS-L report was compiled by the Social Research Centre .
Graduates from any higher education institution that participated in the 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey were eligible to participate in the 2021 GOS-L survey . This year , 104 institutions participated in the GOS-L , including 41 universities and 63 non-university higher education institutions ( NUHEIs ).
A high overall response rate of 49 per cent was registered across undergraduate , postgraduate coursework and postgraduate research graduates . Overall , it represents nearly 36,000 responses across the country . ■
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