IT graduates enjoy higher levels of employment better rates of pay
and more career opportunities than the general graduate population,
according to a survey commissioned by the DTI and the Engineering
Council. Cynics may point out that this could simply mean that
other industries are faring worse than ours, but the research still
makes for encouraging reading, writes Nathalie Towner.
The survey looked at the employment experiences of computer science
graduates and engineering graduates six months and three years
after graduation.
The results show that, despite the downturn in the communications
and IT industry, Itec (IT, electronics and communications)
graduates are faring better than graduates from other
disciplines.
Six months after leaving college, the average annual salary for
computer scientists is £17,000, compared with the £15,000 average
for graduates from all disciplines. After three years, graduates in
Itec roles are earning £25,000, while the general average graduate
salary is £20,000.
Three years after graduation 86% of computer scientists are in a
job related to the subject they studied at university, compared
with 74% across all sectors.
The research gives mixed messages for women in the industry. Six
months after graduation there is little difference in salary
between male and female computer scientists (men earn an average of
£17,108, while women get £17,000). Age has a greater impact, with
young graduates earning £17,500, and mature graduates (aged over
25) earning an average of £15,599.
However, three years after graduation female Itec graduates earn an
average of £22,700, while male Itec graduates are on £25,000.
Despite this, women still get a better deal in IT than in other
industries - on average, three years after graduation men are
earning 20% more than women.
"It is still unclear exactly why the salaries for female IT
professionals do not keep up with their male counterparts, there is
no real explanation," says Tony Farrington, researcher at the
Engineering Council. "It could be that women are less ruthless
about climbing the corporate ladder or that they are simply are not
being given the same opportunities."
Staff retention is high in the sector, with 58% of computer
scientists having only worked for one organisation in the three
years since leaving university. However, although many have worked
for the same organisation, a smaller percentage have kept the same
job, suggesting that they are benefiting from career progression.
"These results show that generally IT professionals are happy with
their work and feel they are rewarded with reasonable pay," says
Farrington. "Ultimately they are still doing pretty well and are
still in high demand, although it may not be as high as it was last
year."
Most significantly, job satisfaction remains high. An impressive
98% of computer scientists say they work with people they enjoy
socialising with. Similarly, more computer scientists say their
jobs are challenging and varied than other graduates (94% of
computer scientists compared to 86% of the whole sample).
When asked what other factors motivate them in their work, most
ITers cite continual skills development and international job
opportunities.