New research from the nice people at Adzuna explores where the best place to be a graduate is.
- Scotland offers graduates an average salary of £1,889 more than UK national average
- London has the highest number of job roles but the average graduate salary (only £300 more than national average) combined with the steep living costs negatively impacts quality of life
- IT industry offers the best balance for graduates – with a high number of job opportunities and a high salary (more than £3,000 over national average for graduate roles)
- Teaching offers the largest number of job opportunities but the lowest average graduate pay
Analysis from over 1.2 million live job ads reveals Scotland ranked as best region for graduate pay with an average salary of £24,927: £1,889 more than the national average graduate salary across the UK (£23,038).
Perhaps surprisingly, the smaller regions of Scotland are outplaying their city giants when it comes to pay: North Lanarkshire’s average graduate salary sits at £28,256, South Lanarkshire at £27,823 and Dundee at £26,248 in comparison to Edinburgh (£25,017) and Glasgow (£23,849).
Of the UK’s 53,233 graduate jobs, the study revealed that whilst Scotland is the most competitive region for earning money, there are fewer job opportunities than other regions. The research found the top three regions for job opportunity are London (19,328), South East England, (7,639) and North West England (4,397).
Recent stats say London is attracting 24% of graduates within six months of graduating, and with the most job opportunities in the UK and the third most competitive wage (£23,336), it is no wonder why. However, with a monthly take home of £1,602.87 after tax for this salary and a single persons monthly livings costs without rent estimated at £771.62 combined with average rental costs for a double room standing at £751, this doesn’t leave much spare change.
By contrast, South East England offers some of the best balance, with a high number job roles (second largest number in the UK with 7,739 jobs) and good salary (just above national average at £23,098).
Industry Intel
Teaching is the best industry for job opportunities with 11,537 current live graduate jobs – but, when it comes to salary, it ranks lowest. On average a graduate will earn just £17,750 teaching compared to the top average graduate wage in engineering of £27,413 (£4,375 more than the national average graduate salary)
Adzuna’s findings identify IT as the best sector on balance for a graduate to get into. The industry is placed second for highest annual graduate salary (£26,226), and third for opportunity, where it celebrates 4,108 current graduate job roles available.
As a result, if you’re moving to, or based in, South East England and have just graduated with an IT degree you will hold an advantage over other students in the UK in both getting a job and receiving a competitive salary.
Andrew Hunter, Co-founder at Adzuna, said: “Graduates should look beyond London and embrace a new appetite for adventure when it comes to work location. Our research shows those graduates who are willing to be flexible and mobile stand the best chance of the best chance of securing a well-paying grad role. That said, the traditional migration from North to South needs to be broadened. Flexibility is emerging as a key requirement and it’s important that graduates look carefully to see where the most opportunity is for their selected industry and where they can get the best bang for their buck when it comes to living expenses. Finding the perfect mix will do their wellbeing a world of good and help them bounce up the career ladder.”
