As a rule, HBO graduates are still doing well on the labour market. This is evident from the annual HBO-Monitor of the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) of Maastricht University. The most important conclusion of the monitor is that almost all 2019/2020 graduates have a job; 4 out of 5 graduates are working at the level of education for which they were educated. More than 60% already have a permanent job.

Effect of corona measures

Graduates from higher vocational education did particularly well on the labour market in 2021, especially if you look at the conditions at the time of graduation. Most graduates of academic year 2019/2020 left their hbo programme when the coronapandemic was in full swing, the rest a few months before the pandemic took hold.

Unemployment

Nevertheless, at 2.6%, unemployment was significantly lower than in 2020, when 4.2% of all graduates were unemployed. In fact, the unemployment rate reached its lowest level in the last decade. This decline is particularly strong among full-time graduates, of whom 3.0% are now unemployed, compared to 4.8% in 2020.

Finding a job fast

Although the average time spent looking for a job was slightly longer than last year, 80% of full-time graduates found a job immediately, up from 83% last year, and only 12% had to search for more than 3 months (10% last year).

Job quality

It is also noteworthy that 61% of the last intake already has a permanent job. In the previous year’s class, this was 59%. The number of people who have found work at higher education level (81% versus 79%) has also increased. Moreover, more than three quarters work in their own field.

• Read the details of the research report (in Dutch)

About the HBO-Monitor

The HBO-Monitor is an annual survey of all graduates of higher professional education (HBO). It provides insight into the (labour market) position of graduates and shows to what extent programmes prepare their students well for the labour market. The monitor is carried out by the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) of Maastricht University under the supervision of the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences.

Source: HBO-Monitor