Increase in graduate and school-leaver salaries but ...

A survey by the Institute of Student of Employers (ISE) has found that the typical pay for graduates rose to £30,500 in 2021, up by £833; while school leavers saw a jump of £1,039. However, the number of applicants per job reached a record high of 91 per graduate vacancy, a 17% increase on last year. It also marks the highest number since the ISE started collecting data in 1999. The 2021 cohort of graduates has been competing for jobs against last year's cohort, who graduated in the year the pandemic began. The 177 respondents, each large employers of students and young people, suggested that the jobs market had still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

Animation accolade for Herts Uni

Hertfordshire University has been crowned the UK’s top animation and games school for the second year running by The Rookies. The community for non-professional digital artists announced their list of the top 50 creative media and entertainment schools and colleges in the world, with Hertfordshire ranking 22nd on the list, higher than any other British institution. It also ranked as best 2D animation school in the UK, 2nd in the world; best in the UK for production excellence in 2D animation, 7th in the world and second best game design and development school in the UK, 12th in the world. 

Current shortage occupations

The list of the 10 occupations where, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and industry data, worker shortages are among the most acute are

• HGV drivers - 100,000+

• Nurses - 79,123

• Programmers and software development professionals - 68,929

• Care workers and home carers - 49,751

• Primary and nursery education teaching professionals - 30,574

• Chefs - 29,996

• Sales and retail assistants - 26,183

• Cleaners & domestics - 24,148

• Metal working production and maintenance fitters - 19,748

• Carpenters and joiners - 6,364

The jobs covered by the government's approved list currently include all health professionals, vets, architects, engineers, scientists and orchestral musicians.

Don't underestimate the earning power of technical qualifications

A review of post-18 education and funding showed that only 66% of graduates were in high-skilled employment in 2019 and we have a smaller proportion of people with higher-level technical qualifications in this country compared to competitors like Germany and Canada, for example. Research shows that in the UK men with a higher technical (level 4) qualification earn on average £5,100 more at age 30 than those with a degree (level 6). For women achieving a higher technical (level 5) qualification, the difference is £2,700. [ source DfE ]

Potential shake up to UCAS process

UCAS is to recommend changing the university admissions system so students will receive their exam results before getting offers for places. John Cope from UCAS said they were “cautiously backing” such a model. He said he wanted a system whereby students apply in the usual way during term-time but offers would only be made after results day in the summer. He said that the other option on the table, where students would apply to university and receive offers after 'A' level results day and then start degree courses in January, was a “step too far” was “not practical” and would put the country “out of sync internationally”.

Colin Hughes, AQA chief executive, said: “Post-qualification admissions (PQA) could help more young people get the university places they deserve, but schools, exam boards and higher education all need to be willing to give a little to make it happen. If schools can prepare their Year 13 students for exams that start a little earlier, exam boards can mark and award grades a little more quickly and more universities can move the start of term into October, there’s no reason why we can’t do this.”