Final Destinations of Graduates
4.42 Data from HESA shows that the majority of first-degree students graduating from HEIs in the South West go into work. Of the graduates from 2005/06, approximately 62% went into employment, 15% into further study, 10% into work and study, 5.5% were unemployed, and a further 6.5% classified as ‘other’. Of those who go into employment, approximately half go into employment in the region.
4.43 The industry of employment of graduates from South West HEIs broadly mirrors the national picture, although slightly higher proportions go into manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, financial activities, property, business and research, and other services. Lower proportions go into wholesale and retail, health and social work, and this may be surprising given the importance of these industries to regional employment.
4.44 As there is no information on the skills levels being used by graduates in their first destination jobs it is difficult to make assumptions. Nevertheless, the strong supply of higher level skills and the low demand for these skills remains an issue for the South West.