Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Business
RAS ID
17956
Abstract
Favourable graduate employment outcomes are critical for future enrolments in higher education. Enrolments fund higher education providers and ensure a continuous supply of graduates to enhance organisational effectiveness, national productivity and global competitiveness. Recent evidence suggests the global financial crisis has softened graduate labour markets. Stakeholder concerns for graduate career prospects and the adequacy of return on investment from studying at university prompt exploration of those factors which influence graduate employment outcomes. This study tests, using logistic regression, a model of job attainment in recent Bachelor graduates of Australian higher education providers using national data gathered in 2011 (n = 28,246) and 2012 (n = 28,009). Findings indicate employer selection criteria broadly align with our understanding of what constitutes graduate employability, including technical expertise, generic skill mastery and a successfully formed graduate identity. Labour market opportunities, however, are not based on merit alone with employers favouring those graduating from prestigious universities, part-time students and whose study incorporated elements of on-campus learning. There were also noted variations by discipline, age and residency status. The study enhances our understanding of which factors influence graduate employment outcomes and discusses implications for relevant stakeholders.
DOI
10.1007/s10734-013-9696-7
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
This is an Author’s Accepted Manuscript of an article published as: Jackson, D. (2013). Factors influencing job attainment in recent Bachelor graduates: evidence from Australia. Higher Education, 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s10734-013-9696-7, available online here