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DCU and UCD grads have highest median earnings

Graduates from Dublin City University and University College Dublin in 2010 had the highest median earnings ten years after graduating, earning €1,140 and €1,115 per week, respectively, new CSO figures show.

Graduates from information and communication technologies in 2010 had the highest median earnings ten years after graduation, earning €1,165 per week.

And more than a quarter of 2019 graduates were in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period in 2020.

Approximately 80% of 2019 graduates were in substantial employment in the first year after graduation, down from 83% of 2018 graduates.

The most popular industry for new graduates in 2019 was professional and scientific activities, followed by wholesale and retail, health, and education. More than half of graduates in employment were working in one of these industries in their first year after graduation.

Graduates in 2019 had median earnings of €555 per week in the first year after graduation.

Re-enrolled

Around 29% of those graduating in 2019 had re-enrolled in higher education the following year, which is up from 26% for the class of 2018.

Male and female graduates from 2010 earned similar amounts in the first five years after graduation. After ten years, male graduates earned €1,040 per week compared with €915 for female graduates – a difference of €125.

The CSO’s ‘Higher Education Outcomes – Graduation Years 2010-2019’ analyses the destinations of graduates in terms of employment, re-enrolment in education, the industry sectors that graduates work in, and their earnings over time.

Statistician Brian Stanley said: “Approximately 80% of 2019 graduates were in substantial employment in the first year after graduation, with median earnings of €555 per week. 

“This compares with 83% of 2018 graduates, with median earnings of €530 per week.”