Employability in China

CHINA DATA

As universities face stricter government policies on international students, it's important to focus on data reflecting the experiences of Chinese graduates, one of the largest international student groups. According to Asia Careers Group SDN. BHD., Chinese students continue to dominate enrollments, with increasing preferences for destinations like the U.S., U.K., and Australia, and degrees in business, engineering, and IT.

By analyzing their study destinations, fields of study, and career outcomes, universities can gain insights into their aspirations and identify opportunities to improve support systems and career transitions. This data helps universities align their programs with growing trends and better prepare Chinese graduates for the evolving job market.

 

- EMPLOYMENT DATA -

 

1. Average Employability Figures

This section presents the ACG average employability rates for Chinese graduates in Australia and the UK, comparing these figures with overall employment trends.

When comparing the four regions, Chinese graduates in the UK have the highest employability rate at 92.48%, followed closely by the US at 90.20%, Australia at 88.96%, and New Zealand at 88.00%.

 

Overall:

The employability rate of Chinese graduates in Australia is slightly below the overall average at 88.96%, compared to an average of 90.19%. In contrast, Chinese graduates in the UK have an employability rate of 92.48%, closely aligning with the overall UK average of 92.39%. Chinese graduates in the US have an employability rate of 90.20%, while in New Zealand, it stands at 88.00%, slightly below the overall average of 90.64%.

 

2. Employability x University

 

The employment rates of Chinese graduates from Australian universities are generally higher. Both the Group of Eight (Go8) and Russell Group universities show a broad distribution of employability across the graph, suggesting that their outcomes are not exceptionally high overall. However, the Russell Group is more skewed to the right, indicating that a larger proportion of these universities have lower employability rates. Additionally, UK universities, particularly those in the Russell Group, have more institutions in the lower employability brackets compared to Australian universities, which are more concentrated in the higher brackets.

 

3. Employability x Year of Graduate

 

There was a significant drop in employability from 2019 to 2022, with Australian graduates maintaining higher employability rates compared to their UK counterparts when returning to their home countries. However, there is now an emerging rise in the employability of UK graduates from 2022, while Australian graduates' employability continues to decline. This shift indicates a potential recovery in the UK job market, while Australian graduate employability remains on a downward trend.

 

UK employability is generally higher than that of Australia. While both countries experienced a drop in employability from 2019 to 2021, Australia saw a decline from 2019 to 2021, whereas the UK experienced a drop between 2020 and 2021. However, both countries are now showing signs of recovery in employability rates starting with the graduates of 2021.

Australia tends to have higher employability rates than the UK, partly due to favorable factors such as more accessible work visa policies and a job market that is often more welcoming to international graduates. These policies, along with a growing demand for skilled workers in sectors like healthcare, technology, and engineering, provide Australian graduates with more opportunities to enter the workforce. Additionally, Australia's appealing lifestyle and relatively high quality of life can make it an attractive destination for young professionals, which further supports its higher employability rates, especially when considering outliers—graduates who secure positions in high-demand industries or benefit from favorable visa policies. However, when outliers are filtered out, the picture shifts. The UK, with its long-established and prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford, offers graduates strong connections to industries that value academic pedigree. These institutions provide graduates with access to a robust professional network and a higher likelihood of securing jobs in competitive fields. As a result, while Australia may offer more immediate post-study work opportunities, the UK's well-established educational reputation and industry ties give its graduates an advantage in the job market when outliers are removed.

- MONTHS TO FIRST JOB -

 

4. Average time for Chinese graduates to get their first job

Chinese graduates across all four university groups secure their first job faster than the overall average. Among these, Chinese graduates from the Group of Eight are the quickest, landing their first job in an average of 16.19 months, while the overall average for Chinese graduates in Australia is 23.93 months. Graduates from Russell Group universities also find employment relatively quickly, with an average of 17.41 months, faster than their peers from other UK universities, who take around 19.13 months.

Prestigious institutions like the Group of Eight and the Russell Group further accelerate this process. Chinese graduates in Australia land their first job about 1 month faster than the national average, while those from the Group of Eight do so 3 months sooner. In the UK, Chinese graduates from the Russell Group are employed 3.2 months faster than average, and those from other universities find employment roughly 1.5 months quicker.

 

 

Chinese graduates from Australia tend to take longer to secure jobs compared to those from the UK. However, graduates from both the Russell Group in the UK and the Group of Eight (Go8) in Australia benefit from stronger support systems, which help them secure their first jobs more quickly.

 

5. Time x Employability

Sorted by Months to First Job:

 

When the graph is sorted by the time taken to secure a first job, it’s clear that graduates from Australian universities take longer to find employment compared to their UK counterparts. However, graduates from both the Russell Group and the Group of Eight (Go8) tend to secure jobs more quickly, with their time to employment being more consistent. Interestingly, when considering employability, there is no clear trend linking employability with the time taken to secure a job. Notably, the top three universities where Chinese graduates take the least time to find a job have significant differences in employability— with a 28% gap between the top two and a 23% gap between the second and third—despite their similar job-search timelines.

 

Sorted by employability:

 

The graph sorted by employability supports the claim that there is no clear relationship between employability and the time taken to secure a first job. This suggests that while graduates may find a job quickly, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee long-term employment. It highlights the importance of universities not only helping students secure jobs faster but also providing ongoing support to ensure career sustainability and growth. Universities can achieve this by tailoring their academic structure to align with current market needs, ensuring that graduates are equipped with relevant skills that remain valuable in the long term.

 

 

- ANNUAL SALARY -

 

6. Average Annual Salary in Pounds

 Average salary by level of study:

 

Average salary by degree:

 

Average salary by level of study and degree:

In the salary table, it's interesting to see that business doctorate holders tend to earn less than those with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the same field. This is likely because many people who pursue a business PhD are aiming for careers in academia, where salaries are generally lower compared to the private sector. On the other hand, PhDs in STEM fields tend to earn more than those with undergraduate or master's degrees, as they often move into higher-paying roles in research, technology, or industry. Ultimately, the career paths and industries that each degree leads to have a significant impact on the salary outcomes.

Key insights: Chinese graduates returning from the UK or Australia earns an average annual salary of £28,462. Doctorates have the highest average salary at £32,207, followed by postgraduates at £29,097. Undergraduates earn the least, averaging £27,239. STEM graduates earn the highest average salary at £28,752, closely followed by Business graduates with an average of £28,740. Graduates in other fields earn slightly less, with an average salary of £26,845. Undergraduates earn more in STEM, while postgraduates tend to earn higher salaries in Business. Doctoral graduates also earn most in STEM fields than their counterparts.

 

 Average salary by university:

 

The average salary of Chinese graduates is relatively consistent, with Australian universities leading in terms of salary levels. However, the distribution of salaries is fairly even across all ranges. UK universities tend to be more concentrated around the 50-75% salary point. In contrast, the Russell Group universities show a broader spread, while Australian Group of Eight (Go8) universities are mainly clustered in the lower 50% of the salary distribution. This could imply that while Go8 graduates are securing jobs more quickly, they may be facing more competition or lower-paying roles compared to their Russell Group counterparts.

 

Average salary by industry:

Among Chinese graduates, the highest paying industries are Media/Entertainment, Telecommunication, and Construction/Mining. These sectors offer high salaries due to their significant role in China’s rapid economic and technological growth. In Media/Entertainment, companies like Tencent and Alibaba lead global expansions in digital content, gaming, and streaming, requiring skilled professionals in technology and creative fields. Telecommunication giants such as Huawei and China Mobile are driving advancements in 5G and digital communications, demanding expertise in cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, the Construction/Mining industry, with major players like CSCEC and CNPC, involves large-scale infrastructure and energy projects that require specialized engineers and managers, further boosting salaries in these fields.

In terms of popularity, Finance, IT, and Education/Research are the most sought-after sectors among Chinese graduates. However, while Finance is highly popular, it does not offer the highest salaries. Similarly, although IT and Education/Research are in demand, they generally offer lower pay compared to industries like Telecommunications and Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals, which provide more lucrative career opportunities.

 

- TOP INDUSTRIES -

 

7. Top industries where Chinese graduates are most successful

How are Chinese graduates contributing to the global workforce? Are there specific sectors where they are making a significant impact?

*The sector impact rating reflects the ranking of industries based on the proportion of Chinese graduates. In this case, the percentage is represented by the Chinese graduate proportion (%), where a higher percentage indicates a greater representation of Chinese professionals within the workforce, leading to a higher ranking for that sector.

 

Top 5 Highest-Earning Industries for Chinese Graduates Returning Home:

1. Media/ Entertainment: £34,969
2. Telecommunication: £32,314
3. Others: £31,721
4. Consulting/ Mining: £30,206
5. Healthcare/ Pharmaceutical: £29,139

Top 5 Most Popular Industries Among Chinese Graduates:

1. Business and Finance
2. IT
3. FMCG
4. Education and Research
5. Engineering

Top 5 Sectors with the Highest Representation of Chinese Graduates:

1. Fashion and Design
2. IT
3. Human Resources
4. FMCG
5. Advertising and Marketing

The highest-earning industries for Chinese graduates are Media/Entertainment, Telecommunication, and Others, with salaries ranging from £29,139 to £34,969. The most popular sectors are Business and Finance, IT, and FMCG, while Chinese graduates are most represented in Fashion and Design, IT, and Human Resources.

 

- ENTREPRENEURSHIP -

 

8.  Are Chinese graduates more likely to start their own businesses after studying abroad?

Chinese graduates are less likely to start their own businesses after studying abroad, with only 9.37% doing so. This accounts for 10% of all entrepreneurs, meaning that 1 out of every 10 entrepreneurs is Chinese. While fewer Chinese graduates pursue entrepreneurship, they are more likely to be in full-time positions or internships. Specifically, 39.56% of Chinese graduates hold full-time positions, and 6.57% are in contract roles. Among all contract positions, 18.20% are filled by Chinese graduates, while only 11.46% of full-time positions are held by them. These percentages reflect the proportion of Chinese graduates within their respective categories, not the overall totals.

 

9. Where did Chinese entrepreneurs study?

Chinese graduates are particularly entrepreneurial in the UK, where 64.20% are involved in entrepreneurship or freelancing, compared to 24.82% in Australia. However, this figure is likely influenced by the sample size. When examining regional concentration—the proportion of entrepreneurs within each country's Chinese graduate population—the data shows that 7.08% of Chinese graduates in Australia are entrepreneurs, 11.00% in the UK, 19.21% in the US, and 8.70% in New Zealand. Despite the higher overall entrepreneurial activity in the UK, the concentration rates in Australia (7.08%) and the UK (11.00%) are relatively close, suggesting that entrepreneurial engagement among Chinese graduates is similarly distributed in both countries.

 

10. What type of degrees do Chinese entrepreneurs pursue?

Among Chinese graduates who become entrepreneurs, 48.92% pursued a business degree, 20.00% have a STEM degree while 31.08% studied other fields.

 

Among Chinese entrepreneurs, 58.25% in Australia and 44.74% in the UK have studied Business degrees, highlighting a strong focus on business education. In terms of business studies abroad, 58.91% of Chinese students choose the UK, while 29.70% opt for Australia, underscoring the UK's status as a top destination for business education. In contrast, 75.00% of Chinese students in other fields study in the UK, compared to just 18.75% in Australia, further demonstrating the UK's dominance in attracting Chinese students across various disciplines.

For STEM graduates, 61.45% prefer the UK, while 22.89% choose Australia, with about 15.66% heading to the US. This trend reflects the UK's appeal in STEM fields, likely driven by the availability of cutting-edge research opportunities and world-renowned institutions, positioning it as a leading choice for aspiring STEM graduates from China.

*popular "Other" degrees among Chinese entrepreneurial graduates include fields such as Applied Translation, Media and Communication, Multimedia Design (MMD), and Fine Arts.

 

11. What level of study do Chinese entrepreneurs pursue?

Among all postgraduates who become entrepreneurs, 11.79% are from China, while 8.26% of undergraduate entrepreneurs and 13.89% of doctoral entrepreneurs are Chinese, showing a higher representation at the doctoral level.

When looking specifically at Chinese entrepreneurial graduates, 56.83% pursued postgraduate studies, 40.77% completed undergraduate degrees, and only 2.40% held doctorates. This suggests that postgraduate education is the primary pathway for Chinese entrepreneurs, with doctoral studies being much less common.

 

Among Chinese entrepreneurs who studied in Australia or the UK, the majority pursued postgraduate studies (Australia: 53.85%, UK: 61.05%). In contrast, more Chinese entrepreneurs in the US opted for undergraduate studies, with 52.27% choosing this route. Interestingly, a higher proportion of Chinese entrepreneurs in Australia pursued doctoral degrees than in the UK, with a 1.38% difference. The US had the highest percentage of doctoral graduates at 6.82%.

Overall, the majority of Chinese entrepreneurs choose the UK as their study destination. However, it is recommended to refer to the table on the left, which shows percentages based on the concentration of students in each country (Australia, UK, etc.), as it offers a more accurate representation of the distribution of Chinese entrepreneurs. In contrast, the table on the right may be influenced by sample size, potentially skewing the results and leading to misleading conclusions. The concentration-based data on the left provides a clearer, fairer comparison of study preferences.

 

Combination of degree, level of study (Chinese Entrepreneurs)

Overall:

 

Chinese entrepreneurial graduates in the UK have a higher proportion of postgraduates at 61.51%, 7.14% more than in Australia. However, Australia has a greater concentration of undergraduates (42.72% vs. 36.98%) and doctorate holders, with 1.40% more than the UK.

In terms of academic focus, more Chinese entrepreneurial graduates in Australia study business (58.25% vs. 44.53% in the UK), while the UK has a higher percentage of STEM graduates (by 0.80%). The UK also has a greater concentration of graduates in other fields.

In summary, the UK has a higher proportion of postgraduate Chinese entrepreneurial graduates, especially in non-business fields, while Australia has more undergraduates and doctoral graduates. Australia also has a stronger focus on business studies, whereas the UK leads slightly in STEM and has more graduates in other fields.