History : Career areas

In 2010, six months after graduation, nearly 50% of history graduates were in employment in the UK or overseas. A further 8% were combining working with further study.

It is unusual to go directly into a job that is directly related to a history degree until you have completed some kind of further study. Because of this, many graduates are working in roles that appear unrelated to their degree, but a degree in history provides an entry to a huge range of professions.

For example, approximately 15% of those in work were in clerical and secretarial posts, 23% in retail and catering, 10% in managerial roles in commerce, industry and the public sector, 8% in the business and financial professions and 7% in professional roles in marketing, sales and advertising. Approximately 9% were believed to be unemployed.

Where are the jobs?

With their flexible combination of skills, it is not surprising that history graduates who can demonstrate their abilities pursue a wide variety of careers, including teaching, law, research, accountancy, journalism, administration, information management and the media.

Typical employers of history graduates include banks, television and radio broadcasters, national and local government, management consultancies, law firms, schools, higher education institutions and retailers.

For more information on potential career areas, see:

• creative arts - includes activities such as art, crafts and design, dancing, music, acting, writing, photography;
• education - includes work in schools, further education and higher education;
• government and public administration - incorporating a huge range of opportunities within the civil service and local government.

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?