What should parents look for in a university’s employment data?
Parents should look beyond the headline employment rate. They should check whether the denominator is all graduates or only those seeking employment, and how full-time work, non-regular work, and further study are treated. They should also examine outcomes by faculty or department and graduating year, including industries, occupations, and, where available, employer-size or destination breakdowns, as well as the reporting date, definitions, and treatment of nonresponses. Comparisons should use the same measures, and the figures should be considered alongside the student’s desired career. Statistics do not guarantee an individual result.
Key points
- Check the denominator and how full-time, non-regular employment, and further study are counted.
- Review destinations and breakdowns by faculty or department, graduating year, industry, and occupation.
- Check the reporting date, definitions, and treatment of nonresponses; compare only like with like.
- Use the university’s stated methodology and consider fit with the student’s intended career.
Things to check
- Definitions and the scope of published employment data can differ by university, faculty or department, and academic year, so the latest official materials should be checked.
- Employment data describe group outcomes and do not guarantee a particular result or employer for an individual student.