The number of Irish graduates seeking employment here has halved in the last 10 years, while the level of unemployment among graduates is also below the national average.
These are among the findings of a Higher Education Authority (HEA) survey of the first job destination of individuals who received awards in 2003.
It also confirms that the numbers seeking employment has remained at 3 per cent, the same level as in 2002 and 2001. This compares with a figure of 6 per cent in 1993, and is below the national unemployment average of 4.3 per cent for 2004.
The news that graduates enjoy relatively high levels of employment indicates that demand for graduates is continuing to increase here.
Those surveyed range from individuals on one-year certificate courses to those enrolled on PhD programmes.
Over the same period, the numbers of graduates in employment in Ireland increased by 7 per cent to 46 per cent.
In an encouraging finding for Irish employers, the numbers in employment overseas dropped from 9 per cent to 5 per cent, suggesting many graduates are choosing to work in Ireland once they have completed their studies.
HEA chief executive Tom Boland said the development of Irish people was critical to meeting the challenges Ireland faces.
"In order to create an innovation society, we need well-informed people who are creative, questioning, inventive and who are capable of responding creatively and constructively to change," Mr Boland said.
A survey response rate of 59 per cent was achieved among all 46,158 award recipients in 2003.