A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

48

May 2010

AQU Catalunya has just published the study, The match between university education and graduate labour market outcomes (education-job match), by Dr. Enric Corominas, Dr. Carme Saurina and Dr. Esperança Villar from the University of Girona.

Promoted and funded by AQU Catalunya and based on the results of the surveys on the labour market outcomes of graduates in Catalonia, the study was presented within the context of the University Education and Graduate Employment workshop held at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona on March 23rd.

The study shows that the education-job match of graduates improved between 1998 and 2004. Compared to 1998, when only 6 out of 10 graduates were employed, the figure in 2004 had increased to almost 9 out of 10. One of the explanations for this is that graduates entering the labour market in 2004 did so at a decisive time in the economic cycle.

The study also shows that 7 out of 10 graduates continued to study after they had completed their studies and that 1 out of 10 degree holders and engineers went on to take a doctorate degree.

From the application of the Job Quality Index, the study concludes that the variable that most conditions job quality is the degree studied and that graduates who continue with university studies have better jobs compared to those who have not done so.

 PDF The match between university education and graduate labour market outcomes  [ca]