According to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), the unemployment rate increased 0.4 percentage points to 4.1% in 12 months for the 32,195 Masters students surveyed in January 2009 and who graduated in 2008.
But there was a significant difference between part-time and full-time Masters graduates (2.2% and 5.8% respectively). In November 2009 HECSU reported that over the same period the unemployment rate for first-degree university leavers had increased 2.4 percentage points to 7.9%.
Charlie Ball, deputy research director at HECSU said: "Compared with the increase in unemployment for first degree graduates over the same time period, this cohort has been less affected. We expect the full effects of the economic downturn will be more apparent for the most recent crop of Masters graduates.
"The research also showed a very small increase of 0.7% in the number of Masters graduates since the previous year, which I'd expect to rise as the effects of the recession continue to be felt on the graduate labour market."
The report also reveals two distinct groups of Masters students:
Part-time learners are frequently mature and experienced in the job market, with many returning to previous employment. They often go into professional and managerial roles and are typically less likely to experience underemployment or unemployment on graduating.
Full-time Masters students are those often seen as more ‘typical' - young people moving straight from their first degree. They are less likely to be experienced in the labour market, are more likely to suffer underemployment and unemployment and are likely to continue in education. They also have different employment outcomes, being more likely to enter social or conservation roles or go into sales, marketing or the media.
