Industry Research

New Zealand Graduate Labour Market Overview

The University Graduate Destinations 2004 report is produced annually for the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee by its Standing Committee on Graduate Employment. The report covers the destination outcomes for 28,973 graduates from New Zealand universities during the 2003 calendar year; 25,536 being New Zealand Graduates and 3437 International Graduates. There were 758 more New Zealand Graduates and 1127 more International Graduates than recorded in the 2002 survey. This situation reflects the growing importance of international students in the New Zealand university system. Here are some of the major findings from this report:

• Response rate for the 2003 Total Survey Population was 37.4 per cent, well up on 34.3% for the 2000 survey.
• Females outnumbered males in the Total Survey Population as well as New Zealand and International graduates.
• Dominant ethnic group: European/Pakeha 60.8 per cent (2002 survey, 64.6 per cent).
• Other: Asian (Chinese, Other Asian) 19.4 per cent (2002 survey, 17.0 per cent), NZ Maori 5.6 per cent (5.8 per cent).
• 18 to 24 age group: 50.1 per cent of Total Survey Population (2002 survey, 54.7 per cent); 18.5 per cent 25 to 29 (15.3 per cent).
• Commerce and Business largest Aggregate Field of Study: 27.1 per cent.
• 10,136 New Zealand respondents, 708 International respondents.
• New Zealand Respondents (in NZ or overseas): 6325 (62.4 per cent) in full-time employment, 1991 (19.6 per cent) in full-time study.
• 586 New Zealand respondents overseas (2002 survey, 566), 62.3 per cent employed full-time.
• Four largest employer groups for New Zealand respondents employed full-time in NZ: Health and Community Services; Government Administration and Defence; Education, Primary and Secondary and Education, Tertiary.
• Most significant employer group for New Zealand respondents employed part-time in NZ: Education, Tertiary.
• Four dominant occupational groups for New Zealand respondents in full-time employment in NZ: Managers and Administrators, including Trainees; Teaching Professionals; Health Professionals; and Clerical.
• Dominant occupational groups for New Zealand respondents in part-time employment in NZ: Teaching Professionals.
• Average salary for females (2802 respondents) employed full-time: $NZ42,112 (2002 survey, $NZ41,640), males (1585 respondents) $NZ50,388 (2002 survey, $NZ49,216).
• University Bachelor/Bachelor with Honours New Zealand respondents in NZ or overseas, 56.5 per cent: full-time employment (2002 survey, 57.2 per cent), 30.2 per cent: full-time study (28.0 per cent).
• 392 NZ respondents were overseas (2002 survey, 401), 53.3 per cent: employed full-time.
• Average salary university Bachelor/Bachelor with Honours New Zealand respondents employed full-time in NZ:  females (1664 respondents) $NZ36,910 (2002 survey, $NZ36,761), males (912 respondents) $NZ39,260 ($NZ40,626).
• New Zealand Masterate respondents in NZ or overseas, 74.9 per cent in full-time employment (2002 survey, 75.9 per cent).
• Doctorate respondents 84.3 per cent (80.5 per cent).
• Masterate respondents overseas: 57.9 per cent employed full-time and not studying.
• Average salary for females (365 respondents) employed full-time: $NZ52,116 (2002 survey, $NZ53,411), males (255 individuals) $NZ71,531 (2002 survey, $NZ66,777).
• New Zealand university Diploma respondents in NZ or overseas working full-time: 71.3 per cent, 14.6 per cent studying full-time.
• Average salary for females (770 respondents): $NZ48,536 (2002 survey, $NZ45,917), males (416 respondents): $NZ61,695 (2002 survey, $NZ58,078).
• 347 International respondents in full-time employment, 59.1 per cent in NZ and 40.9 per cent overseas.
• 708 International respondents, 18.1 per cent employed part-time, 29.8 per cent not employed (2002 survey, 12.8 per cent and 27.6 per cent).

More can be read about the results of the NZVCC University Graduate Destinations Survey 2004 by going to the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee website at: www.nzvcc.ac.nz/files/advocacy/publications/vcgradsurv7.pdf