The percentage of Irish college graduates who found employment in the State in 1996-7 was the highest on record, with the numbers going abroad to work continuing to decline, according to the Higher Education Authority. Graduate unemployment reached a record low.
An HEA study of the employment, further study and training patterns of over 20,000 recipients of certificates, degrees and diplomas in 1996 showed that 53.9 per cent were in employment by the following April.
Of these, 44.9 per cent had found jobs in Ireland and 9 per cent had found jobs overseas.
In 1995, 42.6 per cent were working in Ireland and 9.9 per cent abroad. In 1994, 40.5 per cent were working in Ireland and 11.2 per cent working abroad.
The HEA's report also showed a continuing decline in the number of graduates still looking for jobs nine months after leaving college: from 7.8 per cent in 1992; 6.2 per cent in 1993; 4.4 per cent in 1994; 4.2 per cent in 1995; to 3.6 per cent in 1996. The final figure was the lowest recorded since the HEA surveys started 16 years ago.
Those who took further study or other training comprised 37.5 per cent of primary degree holders and 10.4 per cent of higher degree holders. This was down from 39 per cent and 12.9 per cent in 1995.
In his introduction, the HEA's chief executive, Mr John Hayden, warned that this fall in the numbers going on to further study or training "may, if it continues, pose problems in the future".
However, he also noted that over 55 per cent of those who received sub-degree certificates or diplomas had gone on to further study, an increase over the previous year.
The report showed the large and rising proportion of certificate and diploma holders who found jobs in Ireland. In 1996, 79.6 per cent of those who entered the Irish labour market found jobs, compared to 76.5 per cent in 1995, 74.3 per cent in 1994, 68.1 per cent in 1993, and 66.5 per cent in 1992.
However, the HEA report showed how few student teachers now got permanent jobs. Only 3.8 per cent of the 1996 recipients of the Higher Diploma in Education obtained permanent teaching posts in Ireland, compared to 6 per cent in 1995. Some 56.9 per cent obtained part-time, temporary or substitute posts (59.3 per cent in 1995).
Among primary degree graduates in education, 16.9 per cent received permanent posts in Ireland, and 77 per cent obtained part-time, temporary or substitute posts.