Half of UK businesses believe having a degree is not important when looking for new hires
Recent studies from Rational FX show that only 14 per cent of UK businesses classify a degree as a “very important” attribute when hiring a new employee, and with student mental health plummeting, many are left questioning the value of obtaining a degree in 2021.
This year has seen a ten-year-low in the number of UCAS applications for undergraduate courses, with a drop of more than 100,000 applicants in comparison to 2020. Additionally, surveys show that up to 55 per cent of students who are already studying at university are considering dropping out, with statistics indicating that, for many, this is due to a decline in their wellbeing.
up to 55 per cent of students who are already studying at university are considering dropping out
A spokesperson from Rational FX claimed that “For the majority of employers, a degree is far from essential, and for many students, the past academic year has been very difficult.”
However, despite 30 per cent of businesses claiming that having a degree is not at all significant when it comes to recruitment, the requirement varies according to industries with the Legal and IT & Telecoms sectors placing a greater importance on their employees having a degree.
Editor: Meg Allan
