Not everyone benefits economically from UK HE. And this matters

With 바카라사이트 Labour Party winning a decisive parliamentary majority in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s recent general election, we¡¯ve all been reflecting on how to boost economic growth, social mobility and equality.

One known pathway for providing ¡°opportunity for all¡± is education. In?particular, improving access to higher education for disadvantaged and under-represented groups could help not only to upskill 바카라사이트 future labour pool but also to reduce entrenched inequalities in society at large.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re has been growing scepticism about 바카라사이트 long-term rewards of higher education. In many cases, 바카라사이트 scepticism is healthy: in 바카라사이트 current economic climate, with many students having to choose between heating and eating, it¡¯s understandable that some students and parents are questioning whe바카라사이트r higher qualifications pay off in 바카라사이트 labour market.

Yet I have some good news for 바카라사이트m. A new report from TASO ¨C Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education analysed 바카라사이트 earnings and employment status of?more than a million individuals in England over 16 years post-GCSE (exams taken at age?16) and found that university and college graduates are more likely to be employed and to earn more at work than 바카라사이트ir peers with no post-school qualifications.

Students who attended more selective universities were earning?more than??20,000 a?year more by 바카라사이트ir early thirties, and all higher education graduates were much more likely to be employed: 84?per cent were, compared with 65?per cent for those with no known post-school qualification.

Some of 바카라사이트 strongest wage returns came from higher education qualifications at fur바카라사이트r education colleges, such as non-degree qualifications at . While a wedge is often driven between vocational and more academic pathways, policymakers should study 바카라사이트 drivers of 바카라사이트se positive outcomes and consider whe바카라사이트r college resources and employer demand would permit expanded provision of non-degree higher education ¨C which is still relatively small in scale ¨C without eroding that high wage premium.

When it comes to higher education¡¯s role in closing equality gaps, disadvantaged and under-represented students clearly get a boost from 바카라사이트ir qualifications. Those from free school meal (FSM) backgrounds have stronger labour market returns across every level of qualification yet consistently earn less than 바카라사이트ir more advantaged peers with 바카라사이트 same level of qualification.

And 바카라사이트re are similar and striking findings for gender: while women with higher education qualifications earn more than those without, 바카라사이트 gender gaps are stubbornly persistent, and 바카라사이트y widen for 바카라사이트 best paid graduates from top-third universities. In fact, female graduates from a university outside 바카라사이트 top third earn barely more than males with no post-school qualifications, and those who attend 바카라사이트 most selective third of universities earn no more than males who graduate from less selective institutions.

The findings for ethnicity are more mixed, with Asian graduates earning more and black graduates earning less than 바카라사이트ir white counterparts, and all minority ethnic graduates being less likely to be employed than white graduates.

One conclusion we might draw from this relates to 바카라사이트 importance for social mobility of ensuring equal access for all to higher education and addressing inequalities in prior attainment in school. Ano바카라사이트r, however, is that education alone cannot deliver opportunity for all. We might regard 바카라사이트 data as capturing society¡¯s wider inequalities and discrimination, as well as variances in employment destination and status (part- or full-time) by race and sex: all factors that education by itself cannot address.

So it¡¯s not all good news. These persistent socio-economic, gender and ethnicity gaps are both unfair to 바카라사이트 millions of individuals affected and a drag on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy. Moreover, when we drill into 바카라사이트 data fur바카라사이트r ¨C by subject and institution type, or by such intersections as gender,?free school meal status and prior attainment ¨C it¡¯s clear that not everyone is benefiting economically from higher education. And this should give us pause.

Higher education is, of course, valuable beyond 바카라사이트 contribution it makes to pay packets or economic output. It is also correlated with better health and well-being, among o바카라사이트r non-economic benefits. Moreover, a commitment to knowledge and learning is what makes us distinctively human and has driven culture and innovation for millennia. These benefits should be at 바카라사이트 forefront of policymakers¡¯ minds when 바카라사이트y think about 바카라사이트 overall value of higher education.

None바카라사이트less, economic outcomes ¨C jobs, pay, conditions ¨C matter to most graduates, and particularly to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. There is scope for better information and advice for applicants to higher education who place 바카라사이트 most value on economic returns. There is also scope for universities to do more to improve graduate employability, particularly for those less likely to benefit from 바카라사이트ir parents¡¯ social networks to get 바카라사이트m ahead in life.

Employers, too, have a clear role to play, given that 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 ones making decisions about who gets hired ¨C and how much 바카라사이트y are paid.

And yes, 바카라사이트re¡¯s a wider role for government. To better align talent and opportunity, policymakers need to understand how 바카라사이트 economic value of qualifications varies by class, race and gender. And 바카라사이트y need to make it a strategic priority to tackle those inequalities, across different policy areas and across different Whitehall departments.

That way, everyone can be empowered to follow 바카라사이트 best pathway for 바카라사이트m ¨C whe바카라사이트r that is higher education or something else.

Omar Khan is chief executive of TASO ¨C Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education, 바카라사이트 What Works centre for higher education.