Employer satisfaction with graduate skills: research report

This report presents the findings of a two-stage research project, conducted by ACNielsen, which aimed to establish the extent of employer satisfaction with the skills of new graduates entering the labour market, as well as areas of dissatisfaction. The first qualitative research stage consisted of twelve focus groups with employers and graduates, and six in-depth interviews with industry representatives. The second quantitative stage consisted of a mail survey of employers who had recruited a new graduate in the last two years. Overall, the performance of new graduates employed appeared...  [+] Show more

This report presents the findings of a two-stage research project, conducted by ACNielsen, which aimed to establish the extent of employer satisfaction with the skills of new graduates entering the labour market, as well as areas of dissatisfaction. The first qualitative research stage consisted of twelve focus groups with employers and graduates, and six in-depth interviews with industry representatives. The second quantitative stage consisted of a mail survey of employers who had recruited a new graduate in the last two years. Overall, the performance of new graduates employed appeared to be reasonable, neither particularly low nor high. The performance ratings given to new graduates employed, across the twenty-five skills and attributes tested, ranged from 3.2 to 4.2 out of a possible 5.0. However, the performance of new graduates who had applied for positions but who were considered unsuitable was poorer, with ratings between 2.9 and 3.9 out of 5.0. The survey confirmed that employers’ main reasons for recruiting graduates (as opposed to non-graduates or those with work experience) were to enable them to train that person in the organisation’s procedures, to provide potential managers and to introduce new ideas or fresh thinking into the organisation.