The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has published its Graduate Outcomes 2024 report, revealing stable employment levels and key insights into how Ireland’s newest graduates are progressing nine months after completing their studies.
This year’s survey captures the destinations of 70,921 graduates, almost evenly split between female (55.6%) and male (44.0%) respondents, with a 50.9% overall response rate.
Employment Outcomes Hold Steady
The report shows that 80.2% of graduates are in employment nine months after graduation. This is slightly up from 80.0% in the previous year, though still below the 83.0% recorded for the Class of 2022.
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Education graduates continue to lead the way, with an impressive 91.6% employment rate.
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Arts & Humanities graduates recorded the lowest employment rate at 63.1%.
Despite fluctuations in the broader labour market, this year’s graduate employment levels remain robust. For context, the CSO’s national unemployment rate in March 2025 stood at 4.5%, while the youth unemployment rate was considerably higher at 11.4%.
Further Study Trends
The proportion of graduates pursuing further study sits at 10.7%, marginally down on last year (11.1%) but slightly higher than the Class of 2022 (10.3%).
Students in certain disciplines are particularly inclined to continue academic progression:
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Arts & Humanities graduates – 21.5%
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Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics graduates – 18.9%
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Education graduates – the lowest at 4.3%
This reflects ongoing demand for enhanced qualifications in competitive sectors, as well as the traditional pipeline from Arts and Science degrees into postgraduate training.
Graduate Cohort Overview
The survey also gives a useful breakdown of study fields:
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Business, Administration & Law – 24.3%
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Health & Welfare – 16.2%
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Engineering, Manufacturing & Construction – 11.0%
Almost half of respondents (49.8%) completed Undergraduate Honours Degrees, while 27.8% graduated from Taught Masters programmes, highlighting the ongoing strength of Ireland’s postgraduate education pathways.
Unemployment and Other Activities
The proportion of graduates who were unemployed remains at 6.5%, unchanged from the Class of 2023 but up from 4.4% in 2022.
Meanwhile, 2.6% of respondents reported being engaged in other activities such as travel, volunteering or home duties—slightly higher than last year’s 2.5%.
What This Means for Employers and Jobseekers
For employers, the data reinforces the continued strength of Ireland’s graduate talent pipeline, particularly in areas such as education, business, engineering and health.
For jobseekers, the report offers reassurance: despite global economic uncertainty, Ireland’s graduate employment landscape remains stable, with strong demand in key sectors.
Whether you’re a graduate entering the workforce or an employer seeking fresh talent, now is the time to act. Graduates should explore available career support services, internships, and upskilling opportunities to boost employability. Employers can engage with graduate recruitment programmes, internships, and partnerships with higher education institutions to access top talent early.
Stay ahead! Visit Recruit.ie to explore the latest graduate job opportunities and recruitment resources.