Almost a quarter of people starting university this year plan to work for themselves when they graduate, research by HSBC has found.
Half of the students questioned said the recession had made them want to run their own business more.
Important findings:
- 50% of students starting university this year want to work for an established business
- 24% want to work for themselves
- 15% will do an unpaid internship when they graduate.
The research also found an increase in the number applications for vocational courses. This year 76% of students have applied for vocational courses, compared to the 66% of current students who say their course is vocational.
Andy Mielczarek, head of retail products at HSBC, said:
“Many of this year’s students were aged 12 or 13 when the financial crisis hit in 2008, growing up during the recession, the subsequent years of slow economic growth and a tough job market.
“On top of this, tuition fees have risen so it’s only natural that this year’s students want to maximise their return on investment.
“Students are increasingly seeing self-employment as an attractive career option. They’re also choosing more vocational subjects and making sure any part time job is relevant to their chosen career.”
