Business Graduates' Employability 2025
BUSINESS GRADUATES DATA
In this section, we take a closer look at the journey of business graduates as they make their way into the workforce, using our ACG international graduate outcomes data. With a wealth of insights at our fingertips, we explore how these graduates are adapting to the ever-changing demands of the job market. We focus on key factors such as the time it takes to secure their first job, average salaries, and the increasing interest in entrepreneurship among these graduates. By examining these important aspects, we offer valuable insights into how business graduates are navigating the job market and the opportunities available to them as they embark on their professional journeys in today’s competitive landscape.
- GENERAL DATA -
First, overall generic data on business graduates is presented, providing a broad overview of current trends and outcomes.
Among our ACG data, business graduates make up approximately 54.38%.
1. Geographic Origin
The majority of international business graduates come from China, making up about a quarter of the total ACG data at 25.66%, followed by India at 14.74%. These are closely followed by graduates from Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
2. Distribution of Business Graduates Across University Groups
The distribution of business graduates across the four university groups (UK, AUS, Russell Group, and Group of Eight) is fairly balanced, with students from the Group of Eight universities showing a moderate concentration in the middle, compared to the other groups.
- EMPLOYMENT DATA –
This section presents employability data on international business graduates, covering key aspects such as employability rates, time to secure the first job, salary levels, industry sectors, and trends in entrepreneurship.
1. Average Employability Figures
The overall employability rate for business graduates stands at 91.29%. Among countries, the UK leads with the highest employability rate at 92.38%, followed by New Zealand at 90.51%, Australia at 89.67%, and the US at 88.62%, specifically for international business graduates.
When comparing broader employability figures, the UK again stands at 92.33%, New Zealand at 90.59%, Australia at 90.18%, and the US at 89.98%. The data suggests that business graduates across these regions are highly employable, with minimal variation between them. Overall, it's a positive outlook for international business graduates entering the workforce.
2. Employability by University
The graph shows that the employability rates of graduates from Russell Group and UK universities are notably higher than those from Australia, with a significant proportion of UK universities ranking at the top compared to their Australian counterparts.
3. Employability by Year of Graduate
Without removing outliers, the graph shows that Australian business graduates have higher employability rates than those from the UK overall, although the UK follows closely behind. However, the employability rates for both regions have declined over the years, from around 86-88% in 2015 to 60-62% in 2024, with a steeper drop between 2019 and 2022, where the UK experienced a more significant decline.
When outliers are removed, the employability rates of UK business graduates are higher than those from Australia, though Australia caught up in 2022. However, for 2023 and 2024, the majority of Australian data points are outliers, which are subsequently removed from the analysis.
This suggests that there are more outliers in Australia, particularly in these two years. These outliers represent a larger divide between graduates who are able to secure jobs quickly and those who face prolonged delays in finding employment. With these outliers removed, it becomes clear that the gap between fast and slow job-seekers in Australia has grown, indicating that many graduates are taking longer to find employment compared to their peers in the UK.
- MONTHS TO FIRST JOB -
4. Average time taken to first job (in Months)
The average time taken for business graduates to secure their first job is approximately 21.25 months.
Breaking it down by region and university group:
- In Australia, the average time to first job is 24.43 months overall, and 24.89 months for business graduates.
- In the UK, the average is 20.29 months overall, and 20.10 months for business graduates.
- For the Russell Group, the average time is 19.48 months overall, and 19.37 months for business graduates.
- The Group of Eight universities in Australia have an average of 19.16 months overall, and 18.95 months for business graduates.
These figures highlight that business graduates in Australia generally take longer to find employment compared to their peers in the UK and the Russell Group, with the Group of Eight universities showing slightly faster outcomes. Business graduates, on the whole, tend to find jobs more quickly than the average graduate, except in Australia, where they take longer.
5. Average time taken to first job (in Months) by University
International business graduates from the UK typically secure jobs quickly, with the top 10 universities leading in employment rates. On average, the top 7 universities place graduates in less than a year, while the top 10 achieve this in under 16 months. Although graduates from the Group of Eight universities in Australia may not match the speed of those from the UK or the Russell Group, they still secure jobs faster than their peers from other Australian universities, highlighting the positive impact of attending prestigious institutions on employability.
6. Relationship between Average time taken to first job (in Months) and Employability
Sorted by Months to First Job
The graph reveals that universities with shorter times to first job typically have employability rates hovering around 80%. There are universities that fall in the intermediate range, where their graduates take slightly longer to secure employment, yet they still boast high employability rates, often surpassing 90%.
Sorted by Employability
When sorted by employability, it becomes clear that business graduates from the UK, especially from the Russell Group, are generally more employable than their Australian peers. UK universities tend to have both lower times to first job and higher employability rates. Additionally, some UK universities, while not having the highest employability rates, benefit from shorter times to first job, giving them a competitive edge in securing employment for their graduates.
Note:
When universities have a low time to first job but a not-so-high employability rate, it often indicates that while many graduates find employment quickly, not all of them secure jobs. One possible reason is that graduates may take on temporary or part-time roles that are not aligned with their qualifications. These positions allow them to enter the workforce quickly but may not be counted towards full-time, long-term employment, which can affect the overall employability rate. Additionally, some graduates may initially accept entry-level or suboptimal positions, which, while offering a starting point in their careers, may not be reflective of the long-term, career-oriented employment that typically defines a high employability rate.
- ANNUAL SALARY -
7a. Average Annual Salary
b. Average Annual Salary by Level of Study
The average annual salary of a business graduate is about £21,906, but this can vary depending on the level of education.
Undergraduate business graduates typically earn more, with an average salary of £23,904. This is likely because they are entering the workforce straight after completing their degree, usually in entry-level positions that offer higher starting salaries.
Postgraduate holders, however, earn an average of £19,935, which may be due to many choosing roles that are more specialized or academic in nature—these jobs often don't come with the same salary levels as corporate or managerial positions.
Doctorate-level business graduates earn the highest average salary of £25,276, as they typically pursue roles in research, leadership, or academia, where their advanced skills and expertise are highly valued and well-compensated.
c. Average Annual Salary by University
Despite the differences in time to first job and employability between Australian and UK universities, the graph shows that the average annual salary of business graduates is relatively balanced across universities. However, it's worth noting that the top two earners are Australian universities, with the third highest coming from the UK. Additionally, universities from the Russell Group and Group of Eight tend to offer competitive salaries, on average, reflecting the strong earning potential for graduates from these prestigious institutions.
d. Average Annual Salary by Industry
Among the top-paying industries for business graduates are finance and banking, followed closely by construction and mining, and then healthcare and pharmaceuticals. This likely explains why Australian universities feature prominently in salary rankings, as the construction and mining sectors are significant drivers of high-paying opportunities in the country.
When it comes to popular industries, finance and banking continue to be the top choice for business graduates, offering both lucrative salaries and abundant career prospects. Following closely behind are the IT and FMCG sectors, which have seen significant growth and demand due to the current market trends.
- TOP INDUSTRIES -
8. Top Industries where Business Graduates are most successful
The following table provides an overview of business graduates' contribution to the global workforce and their impact across key sectors.
*The sector impact rating reflects the ranking of industries based on the proportion of Business graduates. In this case, the percentage is represented by the Business graduate proportion (%), where a higher percentage indicates a greater representation of Business Graduates within the workforce, leading to a higher ranking for that sector.
Top 5 Highest-Earning Industries for Business Graduates Returning Home:
- Finance/ Banking/ Economics/ Law: £28,298
- Construction/ Mining: £27,385
- Others: £26,284
- Healthcare/ Pharmaceutical: £25,943
- Property Planning/ Real Estate: £25,560
Top 5 Most Popular Industries Among Business Graduates:
- Finance/ Banking/ Economics/ Law
- Computing/ Technology/ AI/ Cyber Security
- FMCG
- Education/ Research
- Engineering/ Aerospace/ Energy
Top 5 Sectors with the Highest Representation of Business Graduates:
- Finance/ Banking/ Economics/ Law
- FMCG
- Advertising/ Marketing
- Human Resources
- Hospitality/ Tourism
The highest-earning industries for Business graduates are Finance and Banking, Mining and Construction, and Others, with salaries ranging from £26,284 to £28,298. The most popular sectors are Finance and Banking, IT, and FMCG, while Business graduates are most represented in Finance and Banking, FMCG, and Marketing.
- ENTREPRENEURSHIP -
9. Are Business Graduates likely to start their own businesses after studying abroad?
The data shows that having a business degree doesn't significantly increase the chances of pursuing entrepreneurship. Only 13.13% of business graduates go on to become entrepreneurs, which is slightly lower than the 13.55% of all graduates who take that path. Interestingly, although not presented in the table, our data show that graduates from non-business degrees are more likely to become entrepreneurs, with 14.04% starting their own ventures. That said, the outlook for business graduates is still positive, with more than half securing full-time or permanent jobs (51.61%) and nearly 20% gaining experience through internships.
10. Where did Business Graduate Entrepreneurs study?
Business graduates in the UK show a higher level of entrepreneurship, with 57.86% involved in their own businesses, compared to 37.01% in Australia. However, this difference is likely influenced by the sample size. When looking at regional concentrations, more business graduates in Australia venture into start-ups than in the UK, with 54.53% of Australian graduates pursuing this path compared to 51.06% in the UK. This suggests that while business graduates in both countries are pursuing entrepreneurial paths, the types of ventures and regional factors might be influencing their decisions, with Australia potentially offering more opportunities for start-up creation.
Bonus: Top Universities—Popular Choices that Foster Entrepreneurship
Based on our ACG data, here’s a short list of top universities in the UK and Australia that foster strong entrepreneurial opportunities.
11. Level of study pursued by Business Graduate Entrepreneurs (BGE) and the proportion of BGE at each level
Among business graduates who pursued entrepreneurship, 53.27% of them are postgraduate degree holders while 45.89% of them are undergraduate degree holders, with a minority of less than 1% of doctorate holders.
When we look at the distribution of business graduates across various levels of study, 1 in 4 doctorate holders studied business. Business students make up 56.97% of postgraduates and 48.03% of undergraduates. This could be due to the widespread appeal of MBA programs at the postgraduate level, while PhDs are more commonly pursued in non-business disciplines.
12. Level of study pursued by BGE across countries of study
More business graduates in the UK tend to pursue postgraduate studies, with 58.39% of UK business graduates holding a postgraduate degree compared to 46.31% in Australia. On the other hand, Australia sees a higher proportion of undergraduate business graduates, with 52.19% at the undergraduate level, compared to 41.12% in the UK.
One possible reason for this difference could be the UK’s strong emphasis on advanced qualifications like MBAs and professional certifications, which drive many students to continue their studies. Meanwhile, Australia’s focus on practical, hands-on learning at the undergraduate level might encourage more students to enter the workforce earlier.
Interestingly, Australia also has a higher percentage of PhD business graduates, with 1.50% holding doctorates compared to just 0.48% in the UK. This could reflect the greater availability of research opportunities in certain Australian institutions.
13. Country with the most business graduates likely to pursue entrepreneurship
According to our ACG international graduate outcome data, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia have the highest number of entrepreneurial business graduates. However, when examining the concentration of entrepreneurial business graduates as a percentage of the total, Vietnam leads at 60.33%, followed by India at 58.32%, and Thailand at 57.55%.
These insights provide a comprehensive view of the global entrepreneurial landscape among our ACG international business graduates. With that, we've highlighted the key findings from the data on business graduates.
