Careers: Bright prospects for arts graduates

Arts and humanities graduates fare just as well in the job market as those on more vocational degree courses, according to research published today. Their employment prospects immediately after graduation differ little from those graduating in physical science and engineering.

After four years, 95 per cent are either working or in further study, compared with 92 per cent of physical science graduates and 97 per cent of engineers. The average for all subjects is 97 per cent.

Six months after graduating, classics offers the lowest unemployment rate, followed by music, history, theology and linguistics. Graduates with accounting and business studies degrees find it harder, at this stage, to get jobs.

The report, from the Council of University Deans of Arts and Humanities and the Council for Industry and Higher Education, aims to counter suggestions that employers are unwilling to take on arts graduates.