2026 Graduate Outcome Survey Release.pdf

Foreword

The Cooperative Education and Careers Division is delighted to present the findings of the survey of the UL Class of 2025.

I am delighted to present the findings of the 2026 Graduate Outcomes Survey. The report reflects the voices of 2,905 graduates of the Class of 2025 across all award categories. It is the largest survey of UL graduates to date. The Class of 2025 entered a softening labour market, characterised by employer caution around graduate recruitment. The findings tell a very encouraging story of our graduates’ resilience and UL’s enduring strength in employability. An impressive 94% of this cohort progressed directly into employment or further study. In terms of location, the highest concentrations of graduates nationally are in the Mid-West, East and South-West regions. Globally, the most popular destinations are Europe, North America, and Great Britain. The report’s comprehensive findings can be examined and cross-referenced by a range of indicators, including employment status, location, salary, sector of employment, gender, programme of study and faculty. Within UL, the findings are widely used to support programme planning, accreditation, rankings, quality reviews, marketing, and strategic reporting. I would like to extend my thanks to Gavin Connell and Mark Robert for their work on this extensive survey. I hope you find the report and its findings both interesting and valuable.

Patrice Twomey Director, Cooperative Education & Careers Division

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