Australia Best for Grad Employment
15 December 2014 at 10:59 am
Australia is the best country in the world for new graduates to find a job, according to two separate reports.
Australia topped the list of countries for graduates to work in, five places ahead of the UK, a new report from Marbella International University Centre (MIUC) shows.
IDP, an Australia-based global education agency, also released its latest research, finding that the country’s generous Post-Study Work (PSW) rights were one of the reasons for receiving the top ranking.
MIUC’s Graduate Employment Around the World study saw countries ranked on eight criteria relating to employment and quality of life, including factors such as minimum wage, working hours and annual salary.
In total, 17 countries were chosen based on their appeal to workers and availability of data. An average score was then determined to establish the best countries in the world for graduates seeking work.
A high hourly minimum wage and employment rate were responsible for Australia's strong score in the overall rankings. Australia’s minimum wage is around $15 per hour, compared to the UK's $11.
Spain enjoyed the highest wages for business in Europe from the list analysed with an average of $81,196 USD average annual salary. Globally, Spain came third below the United States and Japan overall.
MIUC has compiled the research into an interactive tool, which can be used to explore the data easily.
Mónica Moso, PhD, Sustainability Science Professor at MIUC, said it was hoped the research could be used by students to help them decide where to study and work.
"We designed the Graduate Employment Around the World tool to give our students the chance to review their options and decide where their degree will take them.
"There are a lot of other factors to take into consideration when choosing where to work – including visa requirements and cost of living – but we hope this acts as a starting point for planning future careers.
IDP’s Chief Strategy Officer, Warwick Freeland, said Australia’s top ranking could lead to increased numbers of international students choosing to study in the country.
“Ultimately, students looking to study abroad will go where they can get the best overall value, and that is measured by access to better skills and knowledge, resulting in better career outcomes,” Freeland said.
Top 10 countries for graduate employment according to the MIUC research were:
1. Australia
2. United States
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. Japan
6. United Kingdom
7. France
8. Belgium
9. Ireland
10. Korea
