Nottingham's reputation as a leader for graduate employment has been reaffirmed from two sources over the last month.

According to HESA Graduate Outcomes data, which is a classification of full-time, UK graduates entering work in the UK from 2018/19 to 21/22, Nottingham is number one for graduates securing graduate-level jobs, which tend to have higher starting salaries. 2024 was the fourth year running that more University of Nottingham graduates entered highly-skilled employment than any other UK university.

Furthermore, the most recent Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data shows that the university leads the Russell Group universities, with 91.1% of its graduates in sustained employment or further study at both three and five years after graduation.

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The LEO data also highlights that, at £27,000, University of Nottingham graduates have the 2nd highest salaries one year after graduating among all non-London/non-Oxbridge Russell Group institutions and the highest median salaries one year after graduating among all East Midlands institutions.

The news comes as analysis by Universities UK of the LEO data, which looks at UK first degrees at three and five years after graduation highlights a new perspective on opportunities for graduates, including those in the East Midlands.

  • By age 31 graduates from the East Midlands earn 37% more than non-graduates from the same region.

  • In the East Midlands region graduates can earn up to 96% more compared to other employees in Accommodation and food service activities, up to 36% more in Human health and social work activities, up to 34% more in arts, entertainment and recreation and up to 33% more in wholesale and retail trade.

  • This money benefits graduates’ wider communities, and the country as a whole - based on recent analysis, graduate skills, are estimated to have an economic impact of £95 billion nationwide in 2021-2 – and £7 billion in the East Midlands.

  • There is also a clear trend across the country – that those regions with more graduates are more productive, driving economic growth.

  • The industries of the future, those that the government has set out as driving growth over the next decade, are heavily dependent on graduate skills- including the creative sector (76%), Professional and business services (74%) and life science sector (73%).

This analysis shows that a degree allows graduates from all regions to earn more. These graduates are driving growth for the country, and will be the backbone of those areas the government have set out as delivering growth and opportunity to local economies.

Elsewhere this year the University of Nottingham has also ranked second in the Russell Group in the Rate My Placement Best Universities for Work Experience 2024 and third most-targeted university in the UK overall in the Graduate Market in 2024 High Fliers Report.

We're very proud of the graduate outcomes our alumni continue to achieve. Their success in entering highly skilled work is testament to their knowledge and ability, alongside the outstanding academic and extra-curricular support they receive whilst at the University of Nottingham.
Pauline Maden, Director of Careers and Employability at the University of Nottingham

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