89.7% employment rate for 2013 building grads beats 70% all-subject average

Six months after graduation, last year’s construction graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 89.7% and an unemployment rate of just 4.8% – far higher than the 70% average employment rate for graduates of all subjects, who also had an unemployment rate of 7.3%.

The figures are calculated from the What do graduates do? survey by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), which revealed the destinations of 256,350 full and part-time first degree graduates in January 2014, six months after they had left university.

There were 3,680 graduates in building management subjects in 2013, compared to 2,705 in architecture and 1,070 in planning. Architecture graduates had an employment rate of 78.4%, and planners 78%.

The survey groups the three subjects into one category, “architecture and building”, which had an overall employment rate of 78.4% and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.

However, the survey suggests that only 64.7% of 2013 graduates in this category found jobs in their degree subject field, compared to 76.5% of civil engineering graduates.

12.3% took up managerial, business, HR and finance roles, compared to 9.2% in the civil engineering category.

The unemployment rate for graduates from all subjects fell from 8.5% to 7.3% year-on-year, marking the biggest drop in early graduate unemployment in 15 years. The graduate employment rate increased from 73.6% to 75.6% year-on-year.

Charlie Ball, deputy director of research at HECSU, said: “The last 18 months are a fascinating example of how quickly the market can change, with graduates from construction-related subjects enjoying one of the most dramatic improvements in their employment outcomes.

“The variations in the employment rates of these graduates reflect the complex relationship between the construction industry and the economy. Students must bear this in mind when deciding which subject to study. It’s vital that they seek careers advice early and take work experience to better inform their decisions and prepare for employment.”

The “architecture and building” figures show a noticeable improvement on the cohort who graduated in 2012, who had an employment rate of 74% and an unemployment rate of 8.8%.

But the survey also reveals a slide in the numbers graduating in “architecture and building”. While the group totalled 7,775 in 2013, 8,195 graduated in 2012, and 8,695 graduated in 2011.

Meanwhile, in 2013 there were 2,920 civil engineering graduates with an employment rate of 75.2%, and 3,800 mechanical engineering graduates with an employment rate of 76.4%.

These groups have also seen a slight upturn in employment rates as demand in the industry recovers. In 2012, there were 2,830 civil engineering graduates with an employment rate of 71.6%, and 3,320 Mechanical engineers with an employment rate of 73.8%.

The HECSU employment figures include full-time work, part-time work, work overseas and work-study combinations, and combine work directly related to the degree subject with other types of jobs.