1. Opportunities to Work in Scotland Dr. Patrick Watt Futureskills Scotland 25 th November 2008

2. New Horizons – Responding to the Challenges of the 21 st 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?

3. 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?

4. What Is A ‘Graduate’ Job? Traditional e.g. solicitors and medical practitioners Modern e.g. software professionals, computer programming and journalism New e.g. occupational therapy, management and accountancy Niche e.g. leisure and sports managers, hospitality, retail management and nursing

5. 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

6. 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

7. Employer Perception of New Recruits Scotland 2006 61% 75% 81% -34% -21% -13% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% School leaversFE College leaversHE graduates Well preparedPoorly prepared

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. Opportunities to Work in Scotland Dr. Patrick Watt Futureskills Scotland 25 th November 2008