The latest available data are taken from the Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (DLHE) survey and are given in the first table.
The DLHE survey captures the first destinations of graduates, six months after leaving university. The most recent information available is for those who graduated in 2005/06 who were surveyed in early 2007.
The table contains a complete breakdown of destination categories, and shows that those graduates who are not included in the proportion in employment are not necessarily unemployed (some are in further study, some are not available for employment and the rest are unemployed).
Data on the longer term career paths of graduates (shown in the second table) demonstrates that over time the employment of graduates in all subjects increases.
Of which: Subject Total of known destination1 Employed2 Work and further study Further study only Assumed to be unemployed Not available for employment/other Percentage in employment3 Medicine and dentistry 4,545 3,960 270 270 10 35 93.0 Subjects allied to medicine 14,795 11,320 1,460 920 620 470 86.4 Architecture, building and planning 3,505 2,315 620 310 125 135 83.8 Education 7,535 5,545 710 825 235 220 83.0 Veterinary science 385 290 15 65 5 5 80.2 Mass communications and documentation 5,440 4,020 285 350 445 340 79.1 Business and administrative studies 19,740 13,260 2,160 1,675 1,320 1,320 78.1 Creative arts and design 18,650 12,635 1,395 1,850 1,615 1,155 75.2 Computer science 10,065 6,865 635 955 1,105 505 74.5 Engineering and technology 8,715 5,765 715 1,075 680 480 74.4 Combined 4,045 2,155 815 310 220 550 73.3 Agriculture and related subjects 1,295 845 100 165 75 105 73.2 Social studies 16,970 10,625 1,725 2,395 1,020 1,210 72.7 Biological sciences 16,685 9,735 1,510 3,315 1,015 1,110 67.4 Languages 12,350 7,185 1,020 2,495 765 885 66.5 Historical and philosophical studies 9,550 5,170 870 2,080 605 820 63.3 Mathematical sciences 3,185 1,505 480 770 180 255 62.3 Physical sciences 8,065 4,225 645 2,105 540 545 60.4 Law 7,845 2,900 815 3,320 330 485 47.3 Total 173,370 110,325 16,245 25,250 10,915 10,635 73.0 1 Covers graduates from full-time and part-time courses. Overall, around 80 per cent. of graduates provide details of their destinations. 2 Includes full-time paid work (including self-employed), part-time paid work and voluntary/unpaid work. 3 Those in full-time paid work (including self-employed), part-time paid work, voluntary/unpaid work, and work and further study, as a percentage of all those with known destination. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five so components may not sum to totals. Source: HESA Destination of Leavers in Higher Education Survey.
Percentage Activity on 27 November 2006 Subject Employed1 Work and further study Further study only Assumed to be unemployed Not available for employment/other In employment2 Base (unweighted) Base (weighted) Medicine and dentistry 81 15 2 1 2 96 437 336 Agriculture and related subjects 91 4 2 0 3 95 92 141 Education 90 5 2 1 2 95 1,363 506 Mass communications and documentation 88 5 2 2 2 94 406 343 Business and administrative studies 83 11 2 2 3 94 2,060 1,779 Law 81 11 4 3 1 92 662 554 Computer science 89 2 6 2 1 91 1,053 937 Social studies 79 11 6 2 2 90 1,535 1,346 Engineering and technology 83 6 8 1 1 89 783 825 Architecture, building and planning 82 7 10 1 1 89 241 242 Subjects allied to medicine 78 10 8 1 3 88 1,494 978 Mathematical sciences 72 15 10 2 1 87 433 340 Languages 78 9 6 2 5 87 1,372 1,100 Creative arts and design 82 4 4 6 4 86 1,157 1,356 Historical and philosophical studies 79 7 8 3 4 85 793 821 Combined 65 15 9 5 6 80 87 117 Physical sciences 71 9 13 4 3 80 725 804 Biological sciences 66 13 15 3 3 78 1,490 1,444 Veterinary science — — — — — — 25 35 Total 79 9 7 2 3 88 16,208 14,004 1 Includes full-time paid work (including self-employed), part-time paid work and voluntary/unpaid work. 2 Includes those in full-time paid work (including self-employed), part-time paid work, voluntary/unpaid work, and work and further study. Note: The original survey data (the unweighted figures in the table) were weighted to correct for differential sampling and response rates. The sample size for some subjects was not large enough to provide reliable results. Source: HESA Destination of Leavers in Higher Education Longitudinal Survey, This was conducted in November 2006 and covered a sample of graduates who had qualified in 2002/03.