Professional integration of 2023 graduates: Stable Outcomes Despite Slight Declines

The statistical studies department of the French Ministry of Higher Education regularly releases figures on the state of higher education and research in France: its student population, funding, degrees, and professional integration. These two “Notes Flash” (Flash Notes) take stock of employment rates for two categories of graduates: students from business and engineering schools, and those who continued their academic career leading to general or professional Licence’s degrees (equivalent to Bachelor degree) or a Master’s degree. To produce such studies, the Ministry cross-references administrative databases (student/employment records) to measure and analyze the professional integration of recent higher education graduates.

Employment rates vary by time elapsed since graduation

The first Note, entitled “The salaried employment rate in France of 2023 graduates from 5 years of studies engineering and management programs after 6, 12, and 18 months” highlights two key figures: 78.5% of 2023 engineering graduates who did not continue their studies held a salaried job in France 18 months after graduation, compared to 68% for management graduates.

Though the Note acknowledges that “salaried jobs insertion in France has declined compared to the previous graduating class,” it also clarifies that this decline is not overarching. Among 2023 engineering graduates who did not continue or resume their studies in France, the employment rate rose slightly (+ 1.3 point) between 12 and 18 months after graduation. However, the ministry notes that this overall rate has still decreased by 1.2 point compared to the previous cohort, with a smaller decline observed among women (-0.7 point).

Similarly, among 2023 5-years of studies management graduates who did not continue their studies, 68% held a salaried job in France 18 months after graduation, a 1.8-point increase from the 12-month mark. Still, this rate is “significantly lower than the previous year’s cohort” (3-point decline compared to 2022). This decrease is sharper among men (-3.7 points compared to -2.1 points for women).

Salary gaps by gender, but permanent contracts for all

Details on engineering and management graduates reveal that salaried employment rates are higher among women than men both in engineering and management. However, men consistently earn more: for engineering programs, men’s net monthly salaries range from €2,260 to €2,790, while women earn between €2,160 and €2,730. The trend is similar in management: €2,390 to €3,140 for men versus €2,250 to €2,920 for women.

Nevertheless, 18 months after graduation, most of employed engineering and management graduates in France hold permanent contracts (French CDI), with 87.9% for engineers and 83.7% for management graduates.

Significant differences based on degree type

The second Note Flash, titled “Salaried employment rate in France of 2023 graduates from professional bachelor’s, general bachelor’s, and master’s programs,” shows an “overall decline” across all degrees and disciplines: 80% of professional Licence graduates are employed 18 months after graduation (-1.8 point compared to 2022), while 71.4% of Master’s graduates are employed (-2.3 points compared to 2022).

As for the general Licence degree, “which is not primarily designed for direct entry into the workforce due to its largely theoretical content”, only 54% of graduates were employed in France after 18 months (-2.2 points from the previous year). The Note adds that “the logical next step after earning a general bachelor’s degree is usually further study.”

Job outcomes vary by field of study and gender

More specifically, outcomes differ based on academic discipline. Graduates from Science, Technology, and Health fields enjoy better professional integration rates. In this sector, salaried employment in France 18 months after graduation reaches 84.4% for professional Licence graduates, 58.1% for general Licence’s, and 73.6% for Master’s graduates.

In terms of gender, professional integration is generally more favorable for women, except among professional Licence graduates. Among Master’s degree holders, 71.8% of women held salaried jobs in France 18 months after graduation, compared to 70.8% of men. Yet, once again, men earn more, a trend consistent across both Master’s and professional Licence degrees. For general Licence degrees, the gender pay gap is narrower: the net monthly salary for half of male graduates ranges between €1,410 and €1,870, while for female graduates it is between €1,400 and €1,840.