More male and ethnic minority graduates feel held back in jobs market

There has been a rise in graduates reporting that their ethnic background, gender, social class or disability is holding them back from finding work, reveals research by Prospects at Jisc, home of the largest graduate careers website

Prospects' annual Early Careers Survey of more than 6,000 students and graduates found increases across the board in respondents feeling disadvantaged due to a personal characteristic, with notable rises among male and ethnic minority graduates.

More than half (54%) of graduates from an ethnic minority background said they felt they had been disadvantaged in the job application process because of their ethnicity, compared to 43% in 2023.

Some 61% of respondents from a Black, African, Caribbean or Black British background said this, along with 53% of Asian or Asian British respondents, compared to 51% and 49% in 2023 respectively. There has been no change in responses from white graduates (8%).

While female graduates were more likely (15%) than their male counterparts (10%) to say they were held back because of their gender when applying for jobs, the proportion of men who said this was a setback this year has more than doubled - 4% of men and 10% of women in 2023.

Graduates also reported that they were disadvantaged because of their social class. Respondents whose parents didn't go to university were more likely to say they felt held back (26% in 2024, and 24% in 2023) than those with parents who had attended university (17% in 2024, and 15% in 2023).

More people who identify as neurodivergent said they had been held back in the job application process, with 20% reporting this compared to 14% in 2023. Meanwhile graduates set back because of a disability rose just 1% to 14%.

There were also more reports (7%) of people feeling hindered because of their sexual orientation (5% in 2023).

Ethnic disparity in job applications is evident in a report by Nuffield College, which found applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds must send 60% more job applications to get a positive response from employers compared to their white counterparts.

Chris Rea, a graduate careers expert at Prospects for Jisc said 'It's concerning that more graduates are feeling the odds are against them and that there are stark differences emerging. We have also found young people, particularly disadvantaged groups, are struggling with motivation. The jobs market is particularly competitive and that could be having an impact on how they're feeling.'

'While graduates may feel disadvantaged this doesn't mean they should be demoralised. Most employers strive to be more inclusive and see the benefit of diverse teams and it's important that we get this message through to young people. Employers can help by being transparent about recruitment processes and any support they offer.'

Media enquiries

Clare Tregaskis, Prospects and Jisc Student Services, clare.tregaskis@jisc.ac.uk, 07792 429227.

About Prospects' Early Careers Survey 2024

Users of Prospects.ac.uk were surveyed in January and February 2024 to find out about their career plans and experiences over the previous 12 months. Prospects Early Careers Survey 2024 launches on 30 May, analysis is based on 6,102 responses.

About Prospects

Prospects has worked at the heart of higher education for more than 50 years. Part of Jisc Student Services, the directorate collaborates with government, universities and employers to improve student and graduate career outcomes through information, guidance and opportunities. It includes Prospects.ac.uk, which is visited by 1.8 million students and graduates each month, Prospects Luminate and the UK's official postgraduate course database. Jisc Student Services also manages Prospects Hedd degree verification and fraud services.

About Jisc 

Jisc's vision is for the UK to be a world leader in technology for education and research. It owns and operates the super-fast national research and education network, Janet, with built-in cyber security protection. Jisc also provides technology solutions for members (colleges, universities and research centres) and customers (public sector bodies), helps members save time and money by negotiating sector-wide deals and provides advice and practical assistance on digital technology. Jisc is funded by UK higher and further education and research funding bodies and member institutions.