More graduates stay in Dudley than almost anywhere else in the UK, new study says

Research conducted by student recruitment agency Think Orion, analysed government data in an effort to show the "brain-drain" effect on rural towns and cities across the UK.

And while the figures showed that London has the highest graduate retention rate in the country with just over 84%, Dudley managed to retain 69.7% of its graduates placing in in 9th place in the study. Birmingham polled 5th in the study with a retention rate of 71.7%.

The study looked at data on several cohorts of students, calculating the percentage of university graduates who remained in the same region where they sat their GCSE examinations. The study also collected employment statistics and average annual income figures for each area, to understand why graduates are incentivised to stay or leave their home towns. 

Despite not having a university of its own, Worcester University runs courses in Dudley, and the town is near to universities in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, meaning many students commute to study and choose to remain at home.

“For towns like Birkenhead and Dudley, retaining such a high percentage of graduates is an exciting indication that the towns are popular with their residents, and are up-and-coming areas for career progression and industry.," said Manno Notermans, CEO of Think Orion.

"The ‘brain drain’ from rural areas, small towns, and even large university cities to London is a concern for local authorities, as jobs requiring qualified professionals are often left unfilled.  

"Relocating to London is an exciting opportunity for young graduates, with high employment statistics and average salaries providing a great incentive to move. However, a significantly higher cost of living awaits London-dwellers, and excellent employment opportunities are available for students across the country. "