Updated: This report was revised in November 2013 to correct a factual inaccuracy.
The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission funded research exploring the early careers of graduates, looking specifically at whether their chances of securing a high-status job 6 months and 3 years after graduation differ according to socioeconomic background. Looking at the destinations of over 20,000 young people who graduated from university in Scotland, England and Wales in 2006/07, this research found that socioeconomic background and private schooling are associated with a greater influence than gender on the chances of securing a top job 3 years after graduation, and this difference is particularly strong for men. Key findings included the following.
• A graduate’s socioeconomic background is not associated with increased chances of securing a top job 6 months after graduation, apart from through the positive effect it is likely to have on their prior academic attainment and higher education choices.
• However, three years after graduation, those from more advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and those who attended private schools are more likely to be in top jobs, including managers and senior officals.
• And graduates who attended private schools are more likely to secure a top job 6 months after graduation than individuals from state schools with similar characteristics and similar levels of educational achievement. Despite the same prior academic attainment, subject choices and university, a private school student has a 3 percentage point higher chance of entering a top occupation. This is a greater difference than the 2.3 percentage points between men and women.
• Socioeconomically advantaged graduates are more likely to undertake postgraduate study, which is likely to improve their future career prospects.
• However, there does not appear to be a similar socioeconomic gap for Scottish-domiciled students, although further study is necessary to fully understand the reasons for this.
• This research shows that even if we compare students from the same institution type, taking the same subjects and with the same degree class, socioeconomic status and private schooling still affects an individual’s chance of securing a top job.
This report was revised in November 2013 to correct a factual inaccuracy.
.