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STEM Graduates not in STEM jobs:
Why do so many STEM graduates not work in occupations related to their degree?
There is plenty of evidence that many graduates of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) do not go into STEM occupations. This is despite many STEM employers reporting a strong demand for STEM graduates and shortfalls in their recruitment, and the apparently high returns available to graduates going into STEM occupations. What is behind this? Is it because the STEM graduates themselves steer a conscious path away from STEM jobs or are they attracted away by other factors? How much is it due to employers in other sectors recruiting STEM graduates because they value the skills and knowledge that STEM graduates have? Or, again, is it that some STEM graduates are unable to find STEM jobs because of particular inadequacies in their degrees, capabilities, or other factors?
The aim of this project, commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is to understand better the reasons why many STEM graduates do not go into STEM jobs.
This will be achieved through a series of linked research studies focusing on the career decision-making processes of STEM graduates as they enter employment.
The research is being conducted by CRAC in conjunction with NICEC and the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE).
The research output should improve our understanding of the factors influencing the supply of STEM-qualified graduates into the workforce.
The project has three major components:
1. A major national survey of final year undergraduates and postgraduates in STEM subjects, focusing on mapping their career decision-making process. The sample for the survey will be sufficiently large to explore differences between students by subject, and by gender, ethnicity, institution and qualification level. This builds on CRAC's recent career research studies in the engineering and IT sectors and with postgraduates.
2. A substantial programme of face-to-face and telephone interviews with STEM graduates 1-5 years into employment, especially those working outside STEM occupations. This will explore the extent to which graduates had deliberately 'left STEM' or whether they had sought STEM jobs but failed to secure one, and also identify underlying factors, such as particular skill deficits or other issues influencing their occupational choice. The employer networks of CRAC, including those supporting icould.com, and CIHE will be leveraged, along with NICEC's expertise on career discussions in employment.
3. Interviews and focus groups with up to 50 employers from a range of sectors, to obtain their perspectives on the demand for STEM graduates across various occupations and also on the supply of suitably qualified graduates from UK higher education. CIHE will lead this component, building on its recent work with organisations in relation to graduate employment and skills.
These three project strands will be underpinned by desk research to ensure that the project builds on existing information, data and research.
The project is being led and managed by Dr Robin Mellors-Bourne, Research Director at CRAC. Dr Charles Jackson, NICEC Senior Fellow, is Survey Director and Helen Connor, Associate Director of CIHE, is leading the work with employers. The research will be undertaken over a 12 month period from July 2009.
For further information about the project, contact Robin Mellors-Bourne at CRAC on 01223 448502.