An HR body has called on the government to review its “over-promotion” of university education and to focus more on providing vocationally-based diplomas at a time when nearly six out of ten graduates are unable to find suitable employment.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned that government targets desiring 75% of young people – compared to 39% today – to achieve a degree or equivalent qualification are “counter-productive” and should be reviewed urgently.
Recent Budget announcements around offering 20,000 more university places would only lead to the creation of “disillusioned generation” unable to find graduate-level employment but still saddled with thousands of pounds-worth of debt, while also failing to meet the needs of employers, the Institute claimed. The proposed increase in university places will effectively double the number of graduates in the UK.
Tom Richmond, the CIPD’s skills advisor, said: “The government needs to spend more time and effort developing and promoting the new vocationally-based diplomas for 14-19 year olds to ensure that more young people have the key skills to enter the workforce at age 16 or 18 rather than encouraging such a high proportion of them to study for degrees.”
A survey undertaken by the Institute among more than 700 graduates who are currently unemployment found that 58% that left university in the last two years were unable to find a job related to their degree.
Some 21% chose a completely different career path, while 28% felt that their degree failed to provide them with skills necessary for the workplace. A quarter decided to postpone embarking on a career entirely.
Richmond said: “Government should focus on understanding the needs of learners and employers as well as providing young people with better information about realistic employment prospects and salaries typically available for holders of degrees in different subjects. This will help ensure there is a better link between demand for, and supply of, graduate jobs.”
