Jobcentres tell graduates to hide degrees if they want 'survival jobs'

University graduates are being told to "dumb down" their CVs to improve their chances of getting low-paid work as cleaners and shop workers.

A survey by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has criticised the service offered by Jobcentre staff to help new graduates find "survival jobs" straight after leaving university.

One 25-year-old law graduate said: "At the (Jobcentre) group meetings we were encouraged to leave any degree off the CV to help us find more plentiful unskilled work.

"Nobody would employ me as a cleaner if I had a degree. I was told to stop looking for graduate work and take a 'survival' job."

A 25-year-old art history graduate said: "The Jobcentre was not interested in my degree. Frequently they seemed to suggest that, if anything, my qualification and level of education were a deterrent to possible future employers."

CAS chief executive Margaret Lynch said the current job market was sucking promising graduates into a "culture of unemployment or low wages and short-term contracts".

The organisation also found young people's accommodation options were suffering from a combination of high house prices and a lack of social housing.

A third of young people now live in private rented accommodation, compared to ten per cent 15 years ago. Meanwhile, the proportion of young people living in their own property has dropped from one-third to one-fifth.

Ms Lynch said: "It's heart-rending to read so many accounts of people, once full of hope for the future, who feel their lives are on hold. Some are even questioning whether it was worth the time, money and effort they put into getting their degrees.

"We would never say that a degree is not worthwhile but this survey reveals in stark detail the extent of the crisis that many graduates are facing."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) insisted there was plenty of support available for jobseeking graduates, including skills and training, work experience and the New Enterprise Allowance for claimants looking to set up in business.

Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance said: "Scotland has the highest rate of graduate employment in the UK. More than 90% of Scottish students graduating in 2010-11 went onto employment or further study, with graduates from Scottish universities also report the highest average starting salary in the UK at £21,000.

"However, we recognise that the current economic climate is challenging for graduates to get into the job market.

"This is why, as part of our wider work to tackle youth unemployment, we are committed to ensuring that each and every graduate has the support they need to secure long-term sustainable employment."

Labour youth employment spokeswoman Kez Dugdale said: "The Scottish Government needs a plan to both address graduate unemployment and the needs of those out of work for 12 months or more.

"Scottish Labour has consistently called on the Scottish Government to set up a wage subsidy scheme for businesses looking to take on young people. It would promote growth and create jobs."

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said: "Today's report from CAS is a welcome one, which rightly puts the issue of graduate and youth unemployment high on the agenda.

However, highlighting the issue of graduate unemployment shouldn't be taken as suggesting that a university education isn't worthwhile. Getting a degree remains a huge advantage for getting a job and still very worthwhile more generally.

"The Scottish Government has given a specific focus to youth employment, and this is right. They now need to produce real action to create jobs and help young people find those jobs."

Source: News.stv.tv, Friday 27th July 2012