BPS Graduate 2000 Project*BPS Graduate 2000 Project*

Career Destinations of year 2000 Psychology Graduates

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Dr Darren Van Laar, Dr Darren Van Laar,

Applied Psychology Unit, University of PortsmouthApplied Psychology Unit, University of Portsmouth

*Sponsored by the British Psychological Society*Sponsored by the British Psychological Society

Collecting First Destinations dataCollecting First Destinations data

All University careers services survey the first destinations of their graduates in the January following graduation

But how useful are first destinations to understanding the careers of psychology graduates?

The BPS decided to fund APU Portsmouth to investigate the first destinations of psychology graduates and to investigate the career trajectories of year 2000 graduates, 7 years on.

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The BPS Graduate 2000 ProjectThe BPS Graduate 2000 Project

1. First Destinations:

In 1994 the BPS funded a survey of the first destinations of psychology undergraduates and were surprised to find that the majority of graduates did not enter occupations or courses directly related to psychology.

No follow-up study for 20 years despite huge changes in the discipline of psychology and anecdotal evidence suggesting people came back to psychology careers after gaining skills and experience elsewhere.

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Introduction to the BPS Graduate Introduction to the BPS Graduate 2000 Project2000 Project

2. Career Trajectories:

No one knows whether the first destinations of psychology students are related to their later careers

Part of the reason for this lack of evidence is that it is extremely difficult to find out this information as most Universities do not keep track of contact details after graduation.

However, about 10% of psychology undergraduates join the BPS and are still members after 7 years, and these can be tracked.

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1. First Destinations ‘95 to ‘05 1. First Destinations ‘95 to ‘05

HESA has been keeping data on the First destinations of all UK graduates since 1995.

In the 10 years 1995 to 2005, there was an 110% rise in psychology graduates

31% rise for graduates overall

Psychology is the fastest growing degree course in the UK (New Statesman, 2006)

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The rise of PsychologyThe rise of Psychology

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year of Graduation

Nu

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du

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Bus & Man

IT

Law

Psychology

Sociology

Biology

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Psychology FD ‘95 to ‘05 Psychology FD ‘95 to ‘05

Employment rates for psychology graduates rose (57% to 61%)

Graduates overall (64% to 63%)

Percent undertaking further study/training fell slightly (25% to 24.2%)

Graduates overall (21% to 22.7%)

Unemployment decreased (10% to 6.0%)Graduates overall (9% to 6.2%)

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Type of Work 2005Type of Work 2005

Seven categories make up 90% of the first destination occupations Psychology graduates go into:

1. 24.3% ‘Other’ Occupations, e.g. care assistants

2. 17.4% Clerical and Secretarial, e.g. admin officers

3. 13.0% Social and Welfare Professionals, e.g. community workers; counsellors; general psychologists;

4. 11.2% Retail, Catering, Waiting & Bar Staff

5. 9.1% Business, & Financial Professionals and Clerks, e.g. accountants, book-keepers

6. 4.1% Marketing, Sales & Advertising

7. 4.0% Education Professionals, e.g. teachers & lecturers

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Summary DestinationsSummary Destinations

Generally Psychology Graduates are doing well!

Many more Psychologists are being trained than 10 years ago

Psychology graduates appear to enter jobs where they can use their ‘people skills’

About 40% of Psychology graduates enter jobs or training which might lead indirectly to a professional Psychology qualification

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2. Career Trajectories2. Career Trajectories

430 Year 2000 psychology graduates who were also members of the BPS completed the survey

91.9% were currently employed, 1.2% unemployed

78.8% were employed in the public sector, 16.6% in private sector, 4.5% by charities

By 2007 90% of employment required a degree and 96.2% were in psychology related occupations

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Degree skills, seven years onDegree skills, seven years on

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Skills developed on your degree course versus used on your job

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Salary (£K) after 7 yearsSalary (£K) after 7 years

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Q16m: Current Salary90747060585552514542403938373635343332313029282726252423222120191817161514121

Per

cen

t

10%

9%

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

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1%

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Average salary for those employed was £28,270

With an average of £35,480, Occupational Psychologists were the best paid psychology profession

Usefulness of sources of Careers Usefulness of sources of Careers InformationInformation

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39

84

32

82

92

24

88

66

25

90

61

16

68

18

8

76

12

34

75

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0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Uni. Careers service

The Psychologist

Recruitment Agency

Newspapers

Work colleagues

Job centre

Internet

Careers Publs.

Careers consultants

BPS website

Useful Not very useful

Percent agreeing useful or not useful

Satisfaction with career 7 years onSatisfaction with career 7 years on

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Percent satisfied with their career so far

Q25: Satisfied with career so far?

Very satisfiedReasonably satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Not very satisfied

Dissatisfied

Per

cen

t

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

And finally…And finally…

Most Psychology graduates do not go on to ‘Psychology track’ jobs

Those surveyed who do become psychologists are overwhelmingly happy in their job choice

Psychology graduates have one of the lowest unemployment rates 6 months after graduation

… and that just about every job suitable for a general graduate will be done best by a Psychologist!

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Thanks for listening…Thanks for listening…

Dr Darren Van Laar,

Applied Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, PO1 2DY

darren.van.laar@port.ac.uk

Many thanks to Julie Udell, University of Portsmouth, was the research assistant on this project, and to the BPS for funding it.

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