A quarterly publication of AQU Catalunya
AQU Catalunya has published the results of its employment outcomes study for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree holders, based on over 48,000 responses from graduates of the Catalan Higher Education System.
The three graduate employment outcome studies conducted by AQU Catalunya every three years reveal a consistent pattern: university education remains a very sound investment. Three years after graduating, 90.4% of bachelor’s degree holders are employed; this figure rises to 93.7% for master’s degree holders and 95.7% for those with doctorates. Unemployment rates for all three groups hover at or below the full-employment threshold (5%) - far below the 9.8% rate seen in the general Catalan population aged 25 to 54.
And they are not merely employed; the vast majority are working in skilled occupations directly related to their course of study. Three out of four bachelor’s degree holders work in roles specific to their degree, and nearly seven out of ten master’s degree holders carry out work related to the programme they completed - showing sustained improvement compared to previous editions of the study.
| Bachelor’s degree | Master’s degree | Doctoral degree | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent contracts | 69,8 % | 71,2 % | 67,5 % |
| Average monthly gross earnings | 2.569 € | 2.854 € | 3.325 € |
Job quality is improving, primarily due to increased contract stability: nearly 7 out of 10 bachelor’s and master’s degree holders hold permanent contracts - a widespread trend likely linked to the 2022 labour reform. Stable employment for PhD holders is also showing steady growth.
Nominal salaries are rising across all three levels, yet cumulative inflation in recent years is eroding purchasing power: bachelor’s degree holders have yet to regain 2011 purchasing power levels; master’s degree holders’ purchasing power remains virtually unchanged; and PhD holders have lost over €400 in purchasing power since 2020. Significant disparities between disciplines also persist: among bachelor’s degree holders, the average monthly salary in Engineering exceeds is €774 higher that in Humanities - the field consistently showing the lowest figures across all three educational levels.
All three studies agree: the answer is yes - and increasingly so.
For bachelor’s degrees, the rating of the education received has reached its highest level on record across virtually all skills. Most tellingly, for the first time, graduates gave their English lessons a passing grade.
With regard to master’s degree programmes, the training aligns well overall with the labour market: for most skills, there is only a small gap between the level attained and their usefulness in the workplace. Although English receives a pass score and is one of the skills that has improved the most since 2023, it still has the most room for improvement. A significant finding - especially given the current diversification of formats - is that virtual learning prepares students just as well as in-person learning; there is virtually no difference in the standard of education received. The greatest differences appear in teamwork and oral communication, where in-person or hybrid modes score slightly higher than remote modes; conversely, written expression scores 0.5 points higher in remote training.
Regarding doctoral studies, the skills developed are useful both within and outside academia. While these skills are utilised most intensively in universities and research centres, several - such as independent, self-directed work (8.3 out of 10) and the ability to generate new knowledge (7.6) – continue to be rated as highly useful in the corporate sector. Only strictly academic skills, such as writing and publishing scientific articles (6.2), are seen as less important.
Job satisfaction is high across all three groups (between 7.9 and 8.2 out of 10), and the vast majority would choose the same course of study again. This sentiment also rises with the level of education: from 71% for bachelor’s degree holders to 81.6% for doctoral degree holders.
This year, each study incorporates new perspectives on graduates’ experiences:
Bachelor’s degrees Dual bachelor’s degrees: double the value? For the first time, the study analyses graduates of dual bachelor’s degree programmes. They tend to secure better employment and a better match between their studies and their job than those with a standard bachelor’s degree. However, only one-third perform work specific to both degrees: while a dual degree guarantees a job aligned with the field of study, both profiles are rarely fully utilised simultaneously. |
Master’s degrees In-person learning is no longer the norm Less than half of graduates (46%) completed their master’s degree in-person. Hybrid (23%) and remote (32.5%) learning are gaining ground, particularly among older students with more extensive work experience. And virtual formats prepare students just as well as in-person formats: there are practically no differences in the level of training, with a slight advantage for in-person or hybrid models regarding teamwork and oral communication, and for remote models regarding written expression (up a difference of 0.5 points). |
Doctoral degrees Mental health: a cross-cutting concern A total of 37% of PhD holders report having suffered from depression, chronic anxiety or other mental health issues during their doctoral studies. Prevalence is higher among women (41%, 10 points higher than among men). |
Source: AQU Catalunya, employment outcomes study for master’s degree holders 2026. If virtual universities are excluded, in-person learning remains the dominant mode (close to 60%) at public and private in-person institutions.
Employment Outcomes of Bachelor's Graduates from Catalan Universities 2026
Employment Outcomes of Master's Graduates from Catalan Universities 2026
Employment Outcomes of Doctoral Graduates from Catalan Universities 2026