What do graduates do in an economic downturn?
Graduates who experience economic downturns seek further education, lower their salary expectations or find employment in areas they may not have previously sought, according to research conducted by Graduate Careers Australia.
The survey, which considers how graduates have responded to fewer opportunities in the employment market, shows graduates take longer to find employment and often end up working in fields other than the one they graduated in until conditions improve.
While these graduates may be working in industries or roles that they would not have previously considered, the experience aids in the development of work-related skills.
A survey conducted by CareerOne early in 2009 shows similar results. Almost 70 per cent of graduates surveyed expected to find it harder to secure work in 2009 due to the financial crisis, while 40 per cent said they aren’t currently working in the field they studied.
Many graduates faced with fewer employment opportunities choose to return to university to undertake postgraduate studies to increase their chances in a crowded market.
Further information
- read Graduates and the economic downturn on the Graduate Careers Australia website
- visit the CareerOne website
- read Jobs reality bites graduates on the News.com.au website
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