Record numbers of University of Wolverhampton graduates securing jobs

A record number of graduates from the university are walking out of the lecture hall and into a well-paid job – many of them staying in the West Midlands.

A survey found 96.3 per cent of students, 1,790 of the 1,885 who graduated from the university last year, were in work or further study after they had left – outperforming the UK average of 94.3 per cent.

And 81 per cent of those who found jobs did so in the West Midlands.

The university has campuses in Walsall and Telford and has had long-standing partnerships with Dudley, Sandwell and South Staffordshire colleges.

The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey is a national annual survey of everyone who has recently graduated from university or HE college.

Each year universities, on behalf of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), contact graduates six months after they have completed their studies to find out their employment status.

More than two thirds of University of Wolverhampton students also go into graduate-level jobs with 68 per cent being employed in professional or managerial roles - up from 66 per cent last year.

The survey results also highlighted that 69 per cent were earning £15,000 to £29,999 and a further 16 per cent earning £30,000 to £59,999, six months after graduating. The average starting salary of a graduate has risen from £22,692 to £24,024 per annum.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Oakes, said: “University of Wolverhampton students have demonstrated they have the knowledge, skills and qualities that employers are seeking.

“We have had high employability rates over the last few years. So to improve once again is an outstanding achievement by both our staff and students, resulting in the University having one of the highest overall employability rates in the UK.

“University is not just about learning and getting a degree – it is also about getting a job and a career at the end of it. We have put together a package of support measures for students alongside their courses to prepare them for the world of work.

“This means our students stand a better chance of succeeding when they’ve graduated. We’ve ensured employability skills are embedded into our courses along with a real focus on gaining experience through placements, internships and volunteering opportunities.

“We have an ongoing £250m investment plan to provide the best facilities, courses and technology to give our students the best possible experience. These figures show if you choose the University of Wolverhampton you have an excellent prospect of gaining employment following graduation with an increasing number of our students going straight into graduate level jobs and gaining graduate level salaries.

“We also play a central part in the regional economy and the regeneration of the areas in which we work so are proud of the fact that 81 percent of our graduates contribute to the West Midlands economy by getting a job in the region or setting up their own business here.”