Establishment on the labour market after graduating from higher education
The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) conducted a review on graduates' establishment in the labor market 12 to 18 months after receiving a first- or second-cycle qualification in the academic year 2019/20. The report, based on data from 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, assesses establishment using strict criteria, including employment status, income, and absence of unemployment or labor market policy participation.
Overall, 84% of both male and female graduates from the academic year 2019/20 were established on the labor market, with 8% having uncertain status, 6% weak status, and 2% outside the labor market. Men experienced a slight decline in establishment compared to the previous cohort, while women's rates remained stable.
The report indicates variations over a 25-year period, with the highest establishment rate (86%) observed for the 2016/17 cohort. Professional qualifications showed higher establishment rates (89%) compared to general qualifications (77%), with notable variations among program categories.
For example, graduates in fine, applied, and performing arts had a lower rate of establishment (39%), partly attributed to income from tax-free scholarships. Programs such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Engineering had the highest establishment rates. The rate of establishment for graduates with a foreign background (80%) was lower than for those with a Swedish background (86%).
Gender-based occupational segregation was evident, with men predominantly working in the private sector and women in local or regional authorities. This reflects gendered study choices, with men more likely to pursue programs leading to private sector employment and women in healthcare programs leading to regional sector jobs.
This page was published 29 December 2023