Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO)
Tax year 2023-24

See the Methodology tab for detailed data guidance

Data files

Headline figures

Filename: headline_figures.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: Headline statistics for the Graduate and Postgraduate Labour Market Outcomes (LEO).

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
median_nominal_fd    |  Median first degree graduate earnings five years after graduation
sust_emp_fs_both_fd  |  First degree graduates in sustained employment, further study or both five years after graduation


Outcomes and earnings data

Filename: underlying_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: The primary dataset for the Graduate and Postgraduate Labour Market Outcomes (LEO), containing employment outcomes and earnings of graduates by qualification level, subject studied and graduate characteristics.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                |  Variable description
---------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
activity_not_captured        |  Activity not captured
age_band                     |  Age band at start of study - Filter by Age band at start of study
earnings_include             |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ                  |  Lower quartile of earnings of graduates
earnings_median              |  Median earnings of graduates
earnings_UQ                  |  Upper quartile of earnings of graduates
ethnicity_minor              |  Ethnicity - Filter by Ethnicity
fs_with_or_without_sust_emp  |  Further study with or without sustained employment
FSM                          |  Free school meal status - Filter by Free school meal status
grads                        |  Graduates
grads_uk                     |  Graduates included in outcomes calculation
IDACI                        |  Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index - Filter by Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index
inst_type                    |  Provider type - Filter by Provider type
matched                      |  Matched graduates
nation_of_domicile           |  Domicile - Filter by Domicile
no_sust_dest                 |  No sustained destination
overseas_percent             |  Overseas graduates
POLAR4                       |  Local area HE participation grouping - Filter by Local area HE participation grouping
prior_attainment             |  Prior attainment level - Filter by Prior attainment level
provider_nation              |  Provider nation - Filter by Provider nation
qualification_level          |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
region_name_current          |  Region after HE study - Filter by Region after HE study
region_name_origin           |  Region prior to HE study - Filter by Region prior to HE study
residence                    |  Term time residence - Filter by Term time residence
sex                          |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
study_mode                   |  Study mode - Filter by Study mode
subject_name                 |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
sust_emp_fs_or_both          |  Sustained employment further study or both
sust_emp_only                |  Sustained employment only
sust_emp_with_or_without_fs  |  Sustained employment with or without further study
unmatched_percent            |  Unmatched graduates
YAG                          |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. In contrast to the UK domiciled sections of this release, which uses matched graduates, employment and/or further study outcomes for international graduates are calculated as a percentage of all graduates, excluding only those identified by DWP/HMRC or SLC as permanently living overseas.
2. Free school meals (FSM) status is based on the school census records at any point between school years 6 and 11.
3. POLAR (participation of local areas) classifies local areas into quintiles based on the proportion of 18 year olds who enter higher education at age 18 or 19. Graduates from POLAR quintile 1 are from areas with the lowest rate of progression into higher education and graduates from POLAR quintile 5 are from areas with the highest rate of progression. POLAR is an indicator of the relative deprivation of a geographical area. For more information on POLAR, please see the methodology document.
4. Prior attainment refers to attainment at GCSE level, split into five quintiles with roughly equal numbers of individuals in each. Average equivalent GCSE grades for each quintile, based on the top eight grades for each individual, are: Quintile 1 is an average of 4Cs and 1E, quintile 2 is 8Cs, quintile 3 is 4Bs and 4Cs, quintile 4 is 8Bs, quintile 5 is an average of 4A*s and 4As.
5. IDACI (Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index) score measures a graduate's level of deprivation up to age 15 based on area of residence. IDACI scores are grouped in to quintiles, with quintile 1 being the highest level  of deprivation and quintile 5 the lowest level.


Real terms earnings data

Filename: real_terms_earnings_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: Nominal earnings and real terms earnings, by subject studied for UK domiciled first degree and level 7 graduates of English Higher Education providers.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------
earnings_include     |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ          |  Lower quartile of nominal earnings
earnings_LQ_RTE      |  Lower quartile of real term earnings
earnings_median      |  Median nominal earnings
earnings_median_RTE  |  Median real term earnings
earnings_UQ          |  Upper quartile of nominal earnings
earnings_UQ_RTE      |  Upper quartile of real term earnings
grads                |  Graduates
grads_uk             |  Graduates included in outcomes calculation
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
YAG                  |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. The adjustment for inflation used the 2017/18 tax year as a base year, hence real earnings in this year are presented as equal to nominal earnings. For 2018/19 to 2023/24 nominal earnings were adjusted using Consumer Price Index (CPIH) inflation rates at the end of each tax year relative to the end of the previous tax year.


Comparisons by post-18 pathway data

Filename: comparisons_by_post18_pathway_underlying_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: Employment outcomes and median annualised earnings at 10 years after GCSEs by post-18 pathway, split by sex, GCSE attainment quintile and (for those with a higher level of qualification) subject area of study.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name              |  Variable description
-------------------------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
activity_not_captured      |  Activity not captured
earnings_decile_1          |  Ten percent had earnings below this level
earnings_decile_9          |  Ten percent had earnings above this level
earnings_lower_quartile    |  Lower quartile of earnings
earnings_median            |  Median earnings
earnings_upper_quartile    |  Upper quartile of earnings
fs_only                    |  Further study only
gcse_attainment_quintile   |  GCSE attainment quintile - Filter by GCSE attainment quintile
no_sust_dest               |  No sustained destination
qualification_level_group  |  Qualification level - Filter by qualification level nine years after completing GCSE Year 11
sex                        |  Sex - Filter by sex
subject_group              |  Subject group - Filter by subject group studied for any quaifications obtained above Level 3
sust_emp_fs_or_both        |  Sustained employment, further study or both
sust_emp_only              |  Sustained emoloyment only

Footnotes:

1. Coverage is those who completed GCSEs in Year 11 during the academic year 2012-13 and were in  sustained employment only in the UK during the 2023-24 tax year with annualised earnings of at least £3,000.
2. Coverage is those who completed GCSEs in Year 11 during the academic year 2012-13 and were living in the UK during the 2023-24 tax year
3. Those who obtained qualifications at Level 4 and above from providers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and all those with apprenticeships at level 6 and above are excluded from this data.
4. STEM subjects include medicine, maths, chemistry, physics, biosciences, architecture, nursing, pharmacology, medical sciences, allied health, engineering, computing, geography & earth sciences, sports sciences, general sciences.
5. LEM subjects include law, economics, business & management.
6. Other subjects include English, languages, philosophy, creative arts, performing arts, sociology, politics, history, media, health & social care, education, general studies.
7. Prior attainment refers to attainment at GCSE level, split into five quintiles with roughly equal numbers of individuals in each. Average equivalent GCSE grades for each quintile, based on the top eight grades for each individual, are: Quintile 1 is an average of 4Cs and 1E, quintile 2 is 8Cs, quintile 3 is 4Bs and 4Cs, quintile 4 is 8Bs, quintile 5 is an average of 4A*s and 4As.
8. Some data points for those with qualifications at Levels 4 and 5 are based on a relatively low number of individuals and so should be treated with caution.


Estimated FTE salary data

Filename: fte_salary.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: Comparison of illustrative estimated Full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries to median annualised earnings, by sex and subject studied, for UK domiciled young (under 21 at start of course) first degree graduates.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------
earnings_include   |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ        |  Lower quartile of earnings
earnings_median    |  Median earnings of graduates
earnings_UQ        |  Upper quartile of earnings
fte_salary_LQ      |  Lower quartile of FTE salary
fte_salary_median  |  Median FTE salary of graduates
fte_salary_UQ      |  Upper quartile of FTE salary
sex                |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
subject_name       |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
yag                |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation


Real terms FTE salary data

Filename: fte_salary_rte.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: Comparison of illustrative estimated Full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries to median annualised earnings, in nominal and real terms, for UK domiciled young (under 21 at start of course) first degree graduates.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------
earnings_include       |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ            |  Lower quartile of nominal earnings
earnings_LQ_RTE        |  Lower quartile of real term earnings
earnings_median        |  Median nominal earnings
earnings_median_RTE    |  Median real term earnings
earnings_UQ            |  Upper quartile of nominal earnings
earnings_UQ_RTE        |  Upper quartile of real term earnings
fte_salary_LQ          |  Lower quartile of nominal FTE salary
fte_salary_LQ_RTE      |  Lower quartile of real term FTE salary
fte_salary_median      |  Median nominal FTE salary
fte_salary_median_RTE  |  Median real term FTE salary
fte_salary_UQ          |  Upper quartile of nominal FTE salary
fte_salary_UQ_RTE      |  Upper quartile of real term FTE salary
yag                    |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. The adjustment for inflation used the 2017/18 tax year as a base year, hence real earnings in this year are presented as equal to nominal earnings. For 2018/19 to 2023/24 nominal earnings were adjusted using Consumer Price Index (CPIH) inflation rates at the end of each tax year relative to the end of the previous tax year.


Job quality underlying data

Filename: Job_quality_underlying_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019-20 to 2023-24
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the job quality sections of the Graduate and Postgraduate Labour Market Outcomes (LEO) publication, containing mean job quality scores by region and earnings bands.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------
earnings_group       |  Earnings band - Filter by earnings band
mean_job_quality     |  Mean job quality score
region_name_current  |  Region after HE study - Filter by region after HE study
sample_size          |  Sample size
standard_error       |  Standard error


CAH level 3 subject data

Filename: cah3_subject_level_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: The median earnings and proportion of graduates in employment or further study, shown at the most granular subject level (CAH3 subjects), 2023-24 tax year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                |  Variable description
---------------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
activity_not_captured        |  Activity not captured
CAH3_subject                 |  Subject studied by CAH Level 3 subject group - Filter by CAH level 3 subject
earnings_include             |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ                  |  Lower quartile of earnings of graduates
earnings_median              |  Median earnings of graduates
earnings_UQ                  |  Upper quartile of earnings of graduates
fs_with_or_without_sust_emp  |  Further study with or without sustained employment
grads                        |  Graduates
grads_uk                     |  Graduates included in outcomes calculation
matched                      |  Matched graduates
no_sust_dest                 |  No sustained destination
overseas_percent             |  Overseas graduates
qualification_level          |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
sex                          |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
sust_emp_fs_or_both          |  Sustained employment further study or both
sust_emp_only                |  Sustained employment only
sust_emp_with_or_without_fs  |  Sustained employment with or without further study
unmatched_percent            |  Unmatched graduates
YAG                          |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation


Graduate movement data

Filename: movement_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: Patterns of movement from home to study region and after study to current region, one, three and five years after graduation among UK domiciled first degree graduates, 2023-24 tax year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSM                 |  Free school meal status - Filter by Free school meal status
grads               |  Number of graduates
grads_uk            |  Graduates included in outcomes calculation
matched             |  Number of matched graduates
migration1          |  Migration to univeristy - Filter by Migration to university
migration2          |  Migration from univeristy - Filter by Migration from university
overseas_percent    |  percent of graduates that are overseas
POLAR4              |  Local area HE participation grouping - Filter by Local area HE participation grouping
prop_overall        |  Proportion of graduates
provider_nation     |  Provider nation - Filter by Provider nation
region_name_origin  |  Region prior to HE study - Filter by Region prior to HE study
selective_status    |  Selective status - Filter by Selective status
unmatched_percent   |  Unmatched graduates
YAG                 |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. Free school meals (FSM) status is based on the school census records at any point between school years 6 and 11.
2. POLAR (participation of local areas) classifies local areas into quintiles based on the proportion of 18 year olds who enter higher education at age 18 or 19. Graduates from POLAR quintile 1 are from areas with the lowest rate of progression into higher education and graduates from POLAR quintile 5 are from areas with the highest rate of progression. POLAR is an indicator of the relative deprivation of a geographical area. For more information on POLAR, please see the methodology document.


International countries data

Filename: international_top20countries_data.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017-18 to 2023-24
Content summary: Employment outcomes and earnings data for international graduates of English Higher Education providers, for the top 20 countries that had the largest first degree and level 7 cohorts (in the 2021/22 academic year).

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                |  Variable description
---------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------
activity_not_captured        |  Activity not captured
country_of_domicile          |  Country name - Filter by Country name
country_of_domicile_grouped  |  Domicile - Filter by Domicile
earnings_include             |  Graduates included in earnings figures
earnings_LQ                  |  Lower quartile of earnings of graduates
earnings_median              |  Median earnings of graduates
earnings_UQ                  |  Upper quartile of earnings of graduates
fs_with_or_without_sust_emp  |  Further study with or without sustained employment
grads                        |  Graduates
grads_uk                     |  Graduates included in outcomes calculation
matched                      |  Matched graduates
no_sust_dest                 |  No sustained destination
overseas_percent             |  Overseas graduates
qualification_level          |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
sex                          |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
sust_emp_fs_or_both          |  Sustained employment further study or both
sust_emp_only                |  Sustained employment only
sust_emp_with_or_without_fs  |  Sustained employment with or without further study
unmatched_percent            |  Unmatched graduates
YAG                          |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. In contrast to the UK domiciled sections of this release, which uses matched graduates, employment and/or further study outcomes for international graduates are calculated as a percentage of all graduates, excluding only those identified by DWP/HMRC or SLC as permanently living overseas.
2. The top 20 countries by graduate population were calculated for the one year after graduation cohort (2021/22 academic year) for the 2023/24 tax year. These countries were used for subsequent analysis to allow for comparison between the remaining tax and academic years.


Industry data - 3 digit SIC level

Filename: industry_3digitSIC.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the industry and subject tables in the industry dashboard, showing the number of graduates and median graduate earnings in each industry up to the 3-digit Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code level.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
count                |  Number of graduates
current_region       |  Current region - Filter by current region of residence
earnings_median      |  Median earnings
ethnicity_major      |  Ethnicity - Filter by Ethnicity
FSM                  |  Free school meal status - Filter by Free school meal status
group_name           |  Industry section group name - Filter by Industry section group of graduate employment (group name)
prior_attainment     |  Prior attainment - Filter by GCSE attainment quintile
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
sex                  |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
YAG                  |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. Free school meals (FSM) status is based on the school census records at any point between school years 6 and 11.
2. Prior attainment refers to attainment at GCSE level, split into five quintiles with roughly equal numbers of individuals in each. Average equivalent GCSE grades for each quintile, based on the top eight grades for each individual, are: Quintile 1 is an average of 4Cs and 1E, quintile 2 is 8Cs, quintile 3 is 4Bs and 4Cs, quintile 4 is 8Bs, quintile 5 is an average of 4A*s and 4As.


Industry data - 5 digit SIC level

Filename: industry_5digitSIC.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: A more granular breakdown of industry data, showing the number of graduates and median graduate earnings in each industry up to the 5-digit Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code level.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
count                |  Number of graduates
current_region       |  Current region - Filter by current region of residence
earnings_median      |  Median earnings
ethnicity_major      |  Ethnicity - Filter by Ethnicity
FSM                  |  Free school meal status - Filter by Free school meal status
prior_attainment     |  Prior attainment - Filter by GCSE attainment quintile
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
section_name         |  Industry section - Filter by Industry section of graduate employment
sex                  |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
sic_name             |  Industry class name - Filter by Industry class of graduate employment (class name)
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
YAG                  |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation

Footnotes:

1. Free school meals (FSM) status is based on the school census records at any point between school years 6 and 11.
2. Prior attainment refers to attainment at GCSE level, split into five quintiles with roughly equal numbers of individuals in each. Average equivalent GCSE grades for each quintile, based on the top eight grades for each individual, are: Quintile 1 is an average of 4Cs and 1E, quintile 2 is 8Cs, quintile 3 is 4Bs and 4Cs, quintile 4 is 8Bs, quintile 5 is an average of 4A*s and 4As.


Industry data - industry flow 1-3 YAG

Filename: industry_flow_1_3_yag.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017/18
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the industry flow analysis in the industry dashboard, showing movement between industries of graduates from academic year 2017/18 at one and three years after graduation.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
count                |  Number of graduates
industry_1_yag       |  Graduate industry of employment one year after graduation - Filter by Graduate industry of employment one year after graduation
industry_3_yag       |  Graduate industry of employment three year after graduation - Filter by Graduate industry of employment three years after graduation
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
sex                  |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied


Industry data - industry flow 3-5 YAG

Filename: industry_flow_3_5_yag.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2017/18
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the industry flow analysis in the industry dashboard, showing movement between industries of graduates from academic year 2017/18 at three and five years after graduation.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
count                |  Number of graduates
industry_3_yag       |  Graduate industry of employment three year after graduation - Filter by Graduate industry of employment three years after graduation
industry_5_yag       |  Graduate industry of employment five year after graduation - Filter by Graduate industry of employment five years after graduation
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
sex                  |  Graduate sex - Filter by Graduate sex
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied


Industry data - regional

Filename: industry_regional_map.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the regional analysis in the industry dashboard, showing by industry and subject studied the number of graduates training in and living in each region and median earnings by region.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name        |  Variable description
-------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
difference           |  Difference in number of graduates who studied in and are currently living in the region
difference_prop      |  The difference as a proportion
earnings_median      |  Median earnings of the graduates currently living in the region
living_in_region     |  Number of graduates currently living in region
number_of_providers  |  Number of providers for the combination of subject studied and industry
qualification_level  |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
section_name         |  Industry section - Filter by Industry section of graduate employment
subject_name         |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
trained_in_region    |  Number of graduates that studied in region
YAG                  |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation


Industry data - regional movement

Filename: industry_regional_movement.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023-24
Content summary: Underlying dataset for the regional analysis in the industry dashboard, showing by industry and subject studied the movement of graduates from region of Higher Education provider to current region.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name         |  Variable description
--------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
count                 |  Number of graduates
qualification_level   |  Qualification level - Filter by Qualification level
region_name_current   |  Graduates' current reigon of residence - Filter by Graduate current region of residence
region_name_provider  |  Graduates' higher education institution region - Filter by Graduate higher education institution region
section_name          |  Industry section - Filter by Industry section of graduate employment
subject_name          |  Subject studied - Filter by Subject studied
YAG                   |  Years after graduation - Filter by Years after graduation
