Trained professionals who leave Spanish universities follow the tail of Europe when it comes to finding jobs that conform to their range of training. That is the main conclusion of the new Report of the Knowledge and Development Foundation (CYD) 2021, where one more year affects the problem of the “overqualification” of these workers.
But in the midst of this enormous problem, the study also manages to point out which areas of education achieve a better fit between the university world and market demand. This is: the careers from which their students come out with greater options of finding a job in what they have gone through the University for and with better salaries.
The analysis shows , by field of study, the job placement results of undergraduate graduates in the 2013-2014 academic year in Spanish universities, five years after graduation.
From informatics and health as the safest careers to the uncertainty of humanities
Taking into consideration those who were working five years after finishing their degree, and with respect to their professional situation, the highest percentages of permanent contracts were in computer science, engineering, economics and business administration and management, and in mathematics and statistics; Those that were employed in the highest proportion on a temporary contract were those in the fields of nursing and medicine, as well as those for the training of pre-school and primary school teachers.
Regarding the adequacy between studies and work, the least overqualified, in the sense that in a greater proportion they were employed in positions for which it was necessary to have a university degree, according to their perception, are health graduates (medicine, nursing and others such as dentistry, physical therapy, podiatry), veterinary medicine, engineering, architecture and mathematics and statistics.
At the other extreme, that is, among the most overqualified, graduates in arts and humanities , physical and sports activities, travel, tourism and leisure, environment, forestry, training of early childhood teachers or audiovisual techniques and the media.
On the other hand, those who worked the most in their area of study or a related area were those with degrees in medicine, nursing and other studies in health sciences , veterinary medicine, computer science, engineering, or mathematics and statistics.
Studying medicine, the clearest way to secure better salaries
Regarding the monthly net salary received for the work performed, the report shows that medical graduates: almost 80% earned from 2,000 euros net per month, computer science, almost 80% earned from 1,500 euros (45 %, 2,000 and more) and engineering (lower percentages but quite close to computer science graduates).
Also noteworthy are graduates in architecture, law and mathematics and statistics, who are among those who in a higher percentage charge 2,000 euros and more, as well as graduates in nursing, more than two out of three charge from 1,500 euros.
In contrast, the lowest paid, with the highest percentage earning less than 1,000 euros net per month, are graduates in arts and humanities , physical and sports activities, training of early childhood teachers, psychology or the environment.
If we take into account those who earn less than 1,500 euros, we should also add graduates in journalism and documentation, life sciences, social services and travel, tourism and leisure.
