Search
Close this search box.

University popularity surges despite only a third of jobs requiring degrees

Ahead of A-Level results day, new research from skills organisation City & Guilds reveals that more young people (40%) are turning towards university compared to the same time last year (35%). But there is a stark gender divide – with almost half (47%) of girls aged between 17-19 considering going to university, compared to under a third (31%) of boys.

Ahead of A-Level results day, new research from skills organisation City & Guilds reveals that more young people (40%) are turning towards university compared to the same time last year (35%). But there is a stark gender divide – with almost half (47%) of girls aged between 17-19 considering going to university, compared to under a third (31%) of boys.

According to the findings, girls are also more preoccupied with future earnings, with more than half (54%) making their post-school choice based on what they believe is the best way to get a good job with a good salary, compared to just 44% of boys.

However, labour market analysis from Lightcast suggest that only 29% of UK jobs typically require a degree level qualification. This means young people could be setting themselves up for unnecessary debt without a clear onward trajectory. With young people basing their education choices on perceived, rather than real, career prospects, City & Guilds is urging schools to provide robust careers advice based on current labour market insight to ensure that young people, parents and teachers are aware of the full range of career options available.

The research also reveals there is a clear difference between the influences swaying young people’s decisions about their career choices. While girls are more likely to be influenced by their family (42% compared to 23% of boys), boys are nearly twice as likely as girls to say their choice is based on what they’ve seen on TV or social media.

David Phillips, Managing Director of City & Guilds commented:“It’s crucial that both young men and women have access to robust and up-to-date careers advice that gives a true image of today’s labour market and challenges outdated gender stereotypes about careers. This will ensure school leavers know what is most likely to lead to a good job when they are making choices about their futures. We have seen from our research that both boys and girls are heavily influenced by those in their networks, so it’s vital that parents, and teachers, are made aware of the breadth of educational and training routes, outside of the traditional academic ones, that can lead to rewarding and well-paid jobs.”

City & Guilds’ research also reveals the impact rising costs are having on young people’s decisions. More than half (56%) of 17-19-year-olds surveyed state that the rising cost of living has made them reconsider the type of career they might do after leaving school or college. 67% state they are thinking more about salary when considering potential careers as a result, whilst a further 60% now plan to stay in full time education for longer to help them get a better paid job in the future.

David continued: “It’s reassuring to see that young people are already thinking ahead about the career options available to them. However, as the UK battles against a volatile labour market, with a potential recession on the horizon and a cost-of-living crisis, ahead of this year’s results day, it’s more important than ever that young people make informed decisions about their futures.

“While university is the right path for some, it’s certainly not the only option. Our recent Great Jobs research shone a light on the essential jobs that make up 50% of all UK employment opportunities – many of which rely on vocational routes such as traineeships, apprenticeships and T Levels. As young people look to invest in their future, we encourage them to consider the full breadth of options available so they can identify which path is right for them.”

City & Guilds is encouraging young people to consider the wide range of different education options available upon leaving school. These can lead to important and fulfilling jobs and careers that are often overlooked by people who would thrive in them. Parents, teachers and students can find out more about the vocational and technical education routes on the City & Guilds website: www.cityandguilds.com

    Read more

    Latest News

    Read More

    Rise in recruitment fraud must urgently be checked

    28 March 2024

    Newsletter

    Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

    Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

    Latest HR Jobs

    University of Cambridge – Judge Business SchoolSalary: £32,332 to £38,205 pa, pro rata

    University of Cambridge – Judge Business SchoolSalary: £29,605 to £33,966 pa, pro rata

    University of Oxford – Blavatnik School of GovernmentSalary: Grade 5: £28,759 – £33,966 per annum (with a discretionary range to £37,099)

    Software Development Director (Exec Team Seat). Remote Working with Ellesmere Port Office-Based Minimum 1 Day Per Week. + Contribution towards membership fees. £120,000 – £140,000

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

    Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE