Publication type
Conference Paper
Series
ESRC Seminar
Author
Publication date
November 9, 2002
Abstract:
In this paper, I describe, in a preliminary way, the relationship between the higher education system and recent economic and industrial restructuring. The last three decades have seen a decline in manufacturing employment and growth of services employment Whilst some job loss in manufacturing was dealt with by early retirement, other people faced re-training and increasingly this was carried out through the higher education system, producing large cohorts of mature graduates. Mature study was also an important route for women wishing to re-enter employment after family formation. These graduates entered the labour market at a time when the output of young graduates had substantially increased. Data from the General Household Survey show that they did not enter the same sectors of the labour market. Mature graduates primarily entered welfare occupations, while young graduates increasing entered the higher paying financial, business and legal services. Results are discussed in relationship to social class, gender and the weakened link between higher education and the state.
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