Fed: 92pc of graduates find work within 4 months - report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2003
Fed: 92pc of graduates find work within 4 months - report

A new careers report has found that a university degree almost guarantees people a
job within four months of completing it.

The report, by the Graduate Careers Council, shows more than 92 per cent of university
students found employment within four months of graduating.

Starting salaries for bachelor degree graduates who found full-time work remained at
high levels in 2003.

The median starting salary rate increased from $35,500 in 2002 to $37,000 in 2003.

At $55,000, dentistry graduates earned the highest median starting salary.

Education Minister BRENDAN NELSON says that overall employment outcomes remain strong
for new graduates.

But Opposition Education Spokeswoman JENNY MACKLIN says the report is further evidence
the government needs to fund 20,000 more university places every year.

She says while the survey found that many graduates find jobs quickly it's a tragedy
that 20,000 qualified university applicants are turned away each year because there just
aren't enough places.

AAP RTV dep/sb/wz/lma

KEYWORD: UNIVERSITIES (CANBERRA)

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