Network Access Remains Key Barrier to Graduate Jobs, Report Finds
Research indicates that students from less privileged backgrounds face significant disadvantages in securing employment due to limited professional connections.
Access to professional networks, often referred to as 'social capital,' continues to be a significant factor in securing graduate employment, potentially leaving students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds at a disadvantage, according to a new report.
Research from the Graduate Futures Institute, conducted in partnership with the University of Leicester, surveyed 288 careers professionals across 107 UK higher education institutions. The findings indicate that 79% of these advisers identified a lack of access to professional networks as a primary obstacle for some students seeking jobs.
Social capital, in this context, refers to the advantages gained from knowing individuals who can facilitate job or work experience opportunities, such as well-connected family members or friends. The study revealed that 97% of careers advisers believe students from poorer backgrounds still face employment disadvantages.
Another significant barrier identified by 63% of those surveyed is the inability of poorer students to undertake unpaid or low-paid work. Internships, often a crucial entry point into various industries, can be financially prohibitive for students without parental support, limiting their ability to gain necessary experience.
Claire Tyler, head of insights at the Institute of Student Employers, commented that while employers have made strides in widening access, persistent inequalities arise from differing levels of access to professional networks, career advice, and work experience derived from family connections. These networks, she noted, can provide valuable insights into recruitment processes, early opportunity identification, confidence-building, and employer connections.
Dr. Lindsey Macmillan, professor of economics at UCL, added that inequalities in career access often reflect broader, cumulative advantages tied to family background. This can influence educational opportunities, career information access, work experience, professional contacts, and familiarity with recruitment processes, all of which contribute to navigating competitive labor markets.
Building Professional Networks
Despite the challenges, experts suggest that students without extensive family connections can still cultivate professional networks. Tyler emphasized that network building doesn't solely rely on familial ties. Students can engage with employers through career fairs, insight events, mentoring programs, professional bodies, student societies, and online platforms like LinkedIn. She also highlighted the importance of utilizing university careers services for tailored support in applications, interviews, assessment centers, and networking.
Macmillan echoed these suggestions, noting that careers services, alumni networks, mentoring schemes, professional associations, internships, and work experience offer valuable avenues for learning about careers, meeting industry professionals, and understanding recruitment processes. However, she stressed the overarching challenge for employers, universities, and professional bodies to ensure these opportunities are accessible to all young people, not just those from well-connected backgrounds.