2026 Graduate Outcome Survey Release.pdf

Executive Summary

A total of 4,732 graduates were surveyed, achieving a response rate of 61% and representing the voices of 2,905 respondents. The overall graduate employment or further study rate was 94%, with 81% of graduates going directly into employment and 13% going on to further study or training. This is consistent with the patterns over the past three years. Nationally, as highlighted in UL's 2026 Early Careers Employer Survey, employer caution in graduate recruitment is increasingly evident. The stability of the UL graduate employment rate is therefore encouraging and suggests that UL graduates are agile in navigating a more competitive recruitment environment. Of the 81% of graduates who went directly into employment, 71% are working in Ireland and 10% are working internationally. This is against a backdrop of increased employer caution as highlighted in UL’s Early Careers Employer Survey.

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