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Posted Feb. 24, 2013

Degree Courses with Highest Unemployment Rates

Whether you are just looking into which course you think you would like to enrol in, or you are currently working towards your degree, it's nice to know what the current job prospects are once you graduate.

The figures below were taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, and make for fascinating viewing.

Computer Science                                                         10% Unemployment

Creative Arts & Design                                                   8% Unemployment

Mass Communications & Documentation                     8% Unemployment

Business & Administrative Studies                                7% Unemployment

Engineering                                                                     7% Unemployment

Agricultural & Related Subjects                                      6% Unemployment

Biological Sciences                                                        6% Unemployment

Historical & Philosophical Studies                                 6% Unemployment

Languages                                                                     6% Unemployment

Mathematical Sciences                                                 6% Unemployment

Physical Sciences                                                         6% Unemployment

Social Studies                                                                6% Unemployment

The figures correspond to the amount of graduates who were still unemployed six months after finishing university in 2007. Although the data is not brand new, these figures had not changed much from a previous study completed in 2002, so we can assume that the data has remained relatively consistent since that time.

The results show that graduates of computer science courses have struggled most to gain employment immediately after finishing their degrees, closely followed by graduates of creative arts & design.

So what does this information really mean, and should it affect your course or career choices? ‘Not necessarily’ is the advice given out by many university careers advisers, who believe that you should follow your passions and head towards a career that you are driven to enter. If you are looking at these results and wondering what you can do to increase the chances of finding a job once you graduate, why not try a few of these tips:

  • Start searching for a job well before you actually graduate. Many companies will be interested in signing you onto a contract ready for you to begin work once you have finished your studies. Beat the summer rush of applicants by getting yours in early - you may be rewarded for your initiative and enthusiasm.
     
  • When you're applying for a job where you know that the competition is extremely high, you have to make sure that you are on your game. Spend time and effort ensuring that your CV stands out as this will make people sit up and take notice.
     
  • Why not start your own business? The skills and knowledge that you have acquired during your degree course are valuable and sought after, so why not take control of your own destiny and sell your skills and services. There will never be a better time to start your own business, and if you have other passionate and driven university friends, why not collaborate and launch something big!
     

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