Less jobs and lower wages for graduates compared to 2009. This is the result of a survey carried out by Almalaurea concerning occupation amongst graduates. Unemployment – underlined the survey that involved more that 210 thousand young people – increases not only amongst the graduates who obtain a three-year diploma, going from 16.5 to 22%, but also amongst those who choose a “strong” course such as engineering. Work stability 12 months after graduation has also decreased, together with wages.

Considering that graduates earn on average 1,050 Euros one year after their graduation, the decrease goes from 2% amongst the graduates with a three-year-diploma, to 3% amongst the graduates who attended a five-year course up to 5% amongst those who obtained a specialization. The increase of unemployment can be also seen through the number of graduates’ requests that Almalaurea receives from companies: in the first two months of 2010 compared to the same period of last year, the need for graduates has decreased by 31%.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute