The profile of those starting their careers in the public sector
changed over the 2010s. The public sector became a less common
first place of employment for young adults with lower levels of
education but remained a frequent destination for the most highly
educated. This trend holds across educational indicators, such as
highest qualification, university ranking and final degree grade.
The change took place over two distinct phases: a period of
decline in labour market entrants joining the public sector in
the first half of the 2010s, followed by a recovery in the second
half. Both phases had an educational dimension. The decline was
most pronounced for those without a university degree and for
graduates from the lowest-ranked universities. The recovery in
the proportion entering the public sector was limited to
university graduates and was particularly important for those
with MSc degrees.
The trends may reflect both rising educational requirements in
the public sector and changes in funding for different parts of
the public sector.
Clara von Bismarck-Osten, PhD scholar at IFS,
said:
‘Back in 2008, the public sector was a much more common first
employer for young university graduates than for those leaving
school with GCSEs or A levels. By 2019, that pattern actually got
stronger. The public sector became a more common first workplace
for the most qualified, whereas the proportion of individuals
with fewer qualifications starting their working lives in the
public sector fell markedly.'
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Who enters the public sector? is an IFS briefing
by Clara von Bismarck-Osten and Matthew Nibloe.
You can read the briefing here
on the IFS website
