Destination figures for IT graduates in 2007 revealed a continuing trend for falling unemployment; the percentage of those still seeking work six months after graduation was at its lowest for over five years. However, unemployment levels remained significantly above the average for all subjects. The key issue facing the IT sector remains the declining numbers of students undertaking IT degrees and the resultant skills shortage. Destination figures for mathematics graduates in 2007 remained broadly the same, though there was a small increase in the numbers seeking employment. DestinationsUnemployment levels for IT graduates fell to 9.5% in 2007, from a level of 10.4% the year prior. However, this percentage remains significantly above the average for all subjects of 5.5%. At the same time, the percentage of IT graduates in employment (including working and studying) increased marginally in 2007 to 73.8% and remains above the level for all subjects of 72.4% (see Table 1). Table 1: Destinations of maths and IT graduates from 2007, six months after graduation | Numbers graduating (survey respondents) | Entering employment | Entering further study/training | Working and studying | Unemployed at time of survey | Other |
|---|
| Mathematics | 3455 | 47.4% | 22.9% | 15.4% | 5.9% | 8.5% | | IT and Computing | 10225 | 68.1% | 8.2% | 5.7% | 9.5% | 8.4% | | All subjects | 209120 | 63.3% | 13.9% | 9.1% | 5.5% | 8.3% |
Unemployment levels for mathematics graduates increased slightly in 2007 to 5.9%, from 5.4% the year prior. This took it above the average for all subjects. However, the level of employment increased in 2007 to 62.8%, compared to 61.1% the year prior. Although this is below the level for all subjects, it is to a greater extent explained by the relatively high proportion going on to further study (i.e. as a sole activity). The main concern facing the IT sector is the continuing decline in the numbers entering IT-based courses. Only 13,010 students graduated from IT courses in 2007 compared with 15,145 the year before. Indeed, according to Computer Weekly (6 June 2008), the number of computing students in universities and colleges has dropped almost 50% since 2001 to below 1996 levels. This decline coincides with a rising demand from business for highly skilled IT-professionals, and has sparked fears of a skills crisis within the industry. The landscape of the IT sector has changed in recent times. While lower-level and entry level jobs are being outsourced to countries offering cheaper labour costs, the demand for higher-level work is growing. Although this has had an upward impact on salaries, it has also meant that employer’s requirements have increased. Graduates must not only be able to offer the most relevant technical skills, but also the people and business skills essential to prosperity in the commercial world. As Denise Plumpton, director of information at the Highways Agency commented, ‘Being a great web developer in a university learning situation is very different from sitting in the business world, where there are timescales to meet, budgets to work within, and customers and colleagues with every evolving needs to be catered for.’ (Computer Weekly, 4 July 2008) The IT sector continues to be a growing and potentially lucrative industry – the salary data substantiates this. However, competition for the most rewarding jobs is high. Students should research thoroughly to ensure that they choose courses that equip them with the skills and expertise required by a demanding IT sector. For example, courses with an industrial placement can be a distinct advantage as they provide an excellent means of developing business awareness. Types of workAn examination of the types of work that graduates went into six months after graduation reveals that in 2007, 45.4% of IT graduates were working as IT professionals. This figure represents an increase for the fifth year in succession. Mathematics graduates entering employment comprised 39.9% in business and financial positions at a professional or associate professional level, compared with 37.9% the year prior. SalariesThe average salaries for both computer science and mathematics graduates were above the average salary for all subjects. Six months after graduation, mathematics graduates were earning an average salary of £21,703. This is an increase of £1,491 on the previous year. The highest average salaries were for graduates who had completed artificial intelligence degrees, at £22,505. The average salary for graduates from computer science degrees was £20,645, for information systems degrees, £20,705, and for software engineering, £21,058. The average salary for all subjects was £19,300. Case studiesRobert, assistant statistician with the government, BSc Mathematics, Statistics and Operational ResearchRobert works as a government statistical service assistant statistician. He became interested in the job when the department gave a presentation at his university. His job includes carrying out all the processes involved in producing government statistics, from collecting and analysing data through to writing press releases. Robert graduated in 2005 with a degree in maths, statistics and operational research. The knowledge and skills gained from the course have helped in his current role. For example, he puts the theory he picked up from studying modules in data sampling and regression into practice when collecting data for and constructing indices used in the Consumer Price Index. He also learned how to use Excel, Visual Basic and SAS during his degree and carried these specific IT skills over to his job. After completing his second year at university, Robert undertook a year-long placement at a pharmaceutical company, getting the job with the help of his university's placement officer. He worked as an assistant statistician and SAS programmer, analysing pharmaceutical data. The job gave Robert lots of practical work experience which really boosted his CV. Specifically, the experience provided him with examples he could use when completing application forms and assessment exercises. He thinks it really played a major part in enabling him to secure graduate employment in a statistical role. He would urge students who want to go into a statistical job to obtain some sort of practical experience, even if that is just doing a degree-based project. He also recommends that students make good use of the help offered from their university department and careers service. Phil, analyst with an IT and business services company, BSc Business Information SystemsTowards the end of a placement year with his current employer, Phil was delighted to be told ‘we’d like to take you back when you graduate’. So after completing his final year of a business information systems degree and getting a first, Phil went back to take up a permanent role. He has now been with the company for almost a year. The placement year was spent in London, which meant relocating as Phil was studying in the North West. ‘As I lived in London during my year out, it meant it wasn’t a problem to locate here again. My employer helps out with expenses too. The placement was very important for me and made me want to go back. I'm not sure that other companies would offer me the same freedom to be doing what I'm doing now in my role. The placement also taught me how to deal with clients face to face.’ Phil currently has a dual role. Two days a week are spent as a business analyst allocated to a project at a hospital, implementing a business process monitoring solution. This software has been designed to monitor patients from referral through to treatment status, and full implementation is likely to take around one-and-half years in total. Phil has been involved from the beginning, having joined the company when the project was given the go ahead. ‘I'm client facing and sit within the ICT department of the trust. There are seven hospitals in the trust, so I visit health professionals who'll use the software. This involves liaising with senior management in my company and in the hospital trust. I also work with other staff within the company as part of a team of about six, but the make-up of the team changes depending on the stage of the project. My role is key in liaising with the client and with our technical team.’ ‘I have no typical day. My tasks include: - requirement gathering;
- systems design;
- functional specifications;
- project planning;
- managing risks and issues;
- catching up with clients.
My days aren’t filled with meetings but there are weekly project meetings and discussion meetings in between.’ In addition, three days a week are assigned to another project at the hospital as Phil works as project manager on a ‘technology refresh’ replacing PCs and hardware within the trust. So far, Phil has completed an Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB) business analysis diploma, which is recognised by the British Computer Society (BCS), and is about to sit his practitioner level certification in PRINCE2 for project management. His employer has funded this training and given Phil the time to attend the courses. This external training is in addition to the graduate training scheme in which Phil’s employer has invested heavily. ‘I’ve found the graduate training to be very useful and it has enabled me to act more confidently and effectively.’ For anyone looking to enter a similar role, Phil has the following advice: ‘Take any opportunity on your course to study business analysis and develop experience of problem solving, such as breaking down tasks and projects into manageable chunks.‘ ‘Good people and client facing skills are important, and the ability to see what the issues really are. The client may state what they want but it may not be the best solution for them, so you need to go beyond that and explore what their needs are.' 'If you have no prior relevant experience, a placement can be really useful. The market is so competitive now that a first class or 2.1 is not enough, so work experience is important.’ Angela, treasury manager at a business information company, BSc Maths with Modern LanguagesI first became interested in treasury when working in accountancy at a London jewellers. My boss came from a treasury background, and he introduced me to some of the aspects of the job. I enjoyed working there, but wanted to move onto something a bit bigger, and started looking for jobs specifically in treasuries, which is when I found my job here. We have offices in New York, Canada and London, and a total of 25 treasurers around the world; I’m one of six in London. It’s a small department, which is good for learning different aspects of the job. I get to combine different front and back office parts of the role, and get involved in a variety of different roles, so I can be involved in everything from dealing and talking to clients to accounting and making payments. Treasury involves more number crunching than accounting does, which I like, so a lot of people tend to come from a maths or economics background which is useful. The hours can be long, but sometimes if you want to get along and do well in a job, it won’t be nine to five. Luckily, because we work with North America, we don’t have early morning banking deadlines, the time zone means it’s the other way round. So although I don’t have to be in the office early, I tend to leave about an hour later than I should, sometimes much later than that. I started an ACCA qualification whilst at the London jewellers, and completed it over three years before studying for my AMCT diploma. Like almost everyone on my course, I was funded by my current employer. I don’t use much knowledge from the ACCA anymore, but it’s a really useful back-up qualification to have. Treasury jobs in the UK are mainly in London, so if I ever moved out of the city, I could fall back on my accounting experience and qualification. Doing the AMCT wasn’t a requirement of the job, but it’s a well respected qualification, and seems to be becoming a common requirement for treasury jobs. I’m really glad I did it – it’s helped me enormously in my role here, and I use the knowledge a lot. Before the AMCT, I was doing mainly cash management, making sure businesses had enough money and other operational duties. In the last year, I’ve been involved in selling some of the business and restructuring. We’re always involved in mergers and acquisitions, and anything where cash is received or paid out. There’s a lot of interaction with other departments, and that’s a perk of the job. Building relations is an important part of the job, and its more social than general accountancy. It’s nice to network and share common experiences in such a small world. WebsitesResources on this siteGeneral links | 
