At school, when faced with decisions like what university to apply to or what course to study, it can be easy to forget about what actually happens to graduates once they finish university. Prospects have released their latest What Do Graduates Do? 2024/25 report, which aims to give us a clearer picture of the graduate job market each year. With responses from 184,650 UK graduates, the data provides valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges awaiting students applying to university in the coming months.
The Graduate Job Market: Opportunities and Challenges
The good news? Around 80% of graduates were in employment 15 months after finishing university, and three-quarters of those were in professional-level roles. A further 17% were in further study, showing that many are continuing to build on their qualifications. The less good news? Finding the right job can still be challenging, especially in competitive fields, but persistence and proactive career planning make a significant difference.
Despite economic uncertainty, many sectors continue to have a high demand for skilled workers. Industries such as healthcare, education, technology, and finance are actively hiring, with 74% of firms reporting difficulties in recruitment. That’s a crucial insight for students considering their university choices – some fields offer significantly better job security than others.
What This Means for Students Considering University
For students planning their university applications, the report highlights the importance of strategic decision-making when deciding what to study. Yes, passion matters, but employability should also be a key factor in choosing a degree. Some subject areas, like business, economics, and STEM fields, show stronger graduate employment rates and higher salaries—economics graduates, for example, reported some of the highest starting earnings at £36,100 per year.
That said, the creative industries remain an exciting and evolving space. While some graduates in these fields may take a little longer to establish themselves, the report highlights how emerging trends like AI and digital content creation are opening up new opportunities. The arts, media, and design sectors are increasingly seeing the integration of technology, making skills in digital tools and creativity more in demand than ever.
The Most In-Demand STEM Sectors
The report highlights that STEM fields continue to offer some of the most promising career prospects, with engineering, computer science and data analytics leading the way. The demand for software developers, cybersecurity specialists, and AI engineers is particularly high, as businesses across all industries look to strengthen their digital capabilities. In healthcare, biomedical sciences and pharmaceutical research are seeing sustained growth, driven by advancements in medical technology and global health challenges. Renewable energy and environmental sciences are also becoming increasingly attractive career paths, as industries push towards sustainability. For students considering STEM degrees, these fields not only promise strong employability but also offer opportunities to work on innovative, impactful projects that shape the future.
The Skills Employers Are Looking For
Another major takeaway is that employers are increasingly looking for more than just academic qualifications. Soft skills like resilience, adaptability, and self-motivation are becoming as important as technical knowledge. The shift towards AI and automation is also changing the job landscape, making digital literacy a must-have skill across industries.
However, to truly succeed, students need to be proactive and take initiative in developing their careers. The world of work is less structured than education, meaning employers value individuals who can use their initiative, be proactive, solve problems and take ownership of their tasks. At the same time, networking remains an essential tool for uncovering job opportunities that may not be widely advertised. Building connections with professionals, seeking mentorship and engaging in industry events can significantly enhance job prospects and career growth.
Preparing for an Unpredictable Future
It's clear that relying on qualifications alone is no longer enough. The most successful graduates are those who seek career guidance early, build experience alongside their studies and develop the professional skills that are in demand.
It's never too soon to start building transferable, meaningful experiences in professional settings. InvestIN exists to equip students with hands-on exposure to competitive industries, helping them build essential skills, gain insider knowledge and make valuable connections. Whether you’re aiming for finance, law, medicine, technology, or creative industries, getting this kind of real-world experience before university can give you a crucial advantage.
The future is bright for graduates who take the right steps early – so start planning yours today.
We interviewed current UCL undergraduates and postgraduates to find out about their journey to university and their next steps. Watch on YouTube now!
