Opportunities to Work in Scotland

Dr. Patrick Watt

Futureskills Scotland

25th November 2008

New Horizons – Responding to the Challenges of the 21st Century

Social Cohesion - Benefits to the wider community of having more graduates

Graduates have:

• More awareness of, and interest in, politics and environmental issues;

• A higher tolerance for racial, sexual and cultural diversity; and

• A greater likelihood to volunteer.

All well and good. But there is a question you may wish to ask yourself

…what’s in it for me?

Some Key Questions

• What jobs are out there for graduates?

• How many graduates now compared to the past?

• What’s the benefit of having a degree?

– Participation effects (having and keeping a job)– Wage premium (earning more)

• What do employers think of graduates?

• What are employers looking for?

• What makes a good job?

What Is A ‘Graduate’ Job?

• Traditional

e.g. solicitors and medical practitioners

• Moderne.g. software professionals, computer programming and journalism

• Newe.g. occupational therapy, management and accountancy

• Nichee.g. leisure and sports managers, hospitality, retail management and nursing

Graduate Labour Market in Scotland

• ‘The graduate debate’• The value of qualifications

• qualifications pay

• ..also helps in finding and sustaining work

• graduates continue to earn more than non-graduates

• the wage premium has been maintained

• education and training makes the difference

The Labour Market of the Future?

• Longer-term view (10 year)• Based on trends (last 20 years)• Key Messages

– Modest jobs growth

– Ageing workforce

– More higher-qualified people

– Growth in higher-skilled occupations

– Replacement demand means

– Opportunities in all sectors

– Opportunities in all occupations

Employer Perception of New Recruits

Scotland 2006

61%75% 81%

-34%-21%

-13%

-40%

-20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

School leavers FE College leavers HE graduates

Well prepared Poorly prepared

Recruitment and employer expectations

• Most employers understood the nature of HE provision

• Are usually recruited onto specialist training schemes or positions where a degree is required

• No quality issues in terms of graduates recruited

• Some quantity issues – nature of job/organisation

• Higher expectations of graduate recruits

• Formal training provided, including specific graduate trainee programmes

• ..key expectations

– progress at faster pace

– need less support

– innovate and

– take on more responsibility

What do we mean by ‘well-prepared’?

• What does ‘well-prepared’ mean to employers?– Good technical/job-related skills

– Good communication skills

– Strong work ethic

• Work-preparedness affects– The strength of the contribution that the recruit can make

– The time taken from recruitment to making this positive contribution

What Makes a Good Job..

• The ’average’ response (Work Skills in Scotland – all workers)– work that you like doing– a secure job– good pay– friendly people to work with– good relationship with supervisor or manager– the opportunity to use your abilities– a job where you can use your initiative

• Personal preferences– What interests you? What skills and abilities do you have?

– What’s important to you? Where can you seek career advice?

– …the role of Lifelong Learning and Career Planning?

Opportunities to Work in Scotland

Dr. Patrick Watt

Futureskills Scotland

25th November 2008