Longitudinal education outcomes (LEO) from Scottish colleges: 2016-2017

Employment and earnings outcomes for those successfully completing a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) course at Scottish college in 2012-2013 and who go on to employment, with no further enrolments in tertiary education.

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Superclass subjects

Table 1 shows the median total earnings by superclass grouping for those who completed HNC or HND courses at college and have no further record of tertiary education. The median total earnings of these individuals completing college in 2012/13 was £15,600 three years after completion. The superclass grouping with the highest earnings was 'Oil/Mining/Plastics/Chemicals', with median total earnings of £57,800. The superclass grouping with the lowest earnings was 'Politics/Economics/Law/Social Sciences', with median total earnings of £10,600. The earnings for 'Oil/Mining/Plastics/Chemicals' greatly exceed the other superclass groupings, as the second highest median total earnings was £24,400 for 'Engineering'.

The high earnings relating to 'Oil/Mining/Plastics/Chemicals' could be influenced by a range of factors including the unique employment opportunities offered with this course and the individuals on the course may already be working in the sector prior to enrolment at college. More generally, some superclass groupings are broad and contain a range of different career options for students. As such, there can be wide variation in earnings post college.

Further information on the superclass grouping categories is available in the Glossary section of this release.

Table 1: Total earnings for full-time HNC/HND college completers who left education in 2012/13 by superclass grouping: 2016/17 tax year

Superclass grouping Median total earnings
2012/13 cohort (£)
A: Business/Management/Office Studies 16,200
B: Sales, Marketing and Distribution 17,400
C: Information Technology and Information 17,200
E: Politics/Economics/Law/Social Sciences 10,600
G: Education/Training/Teaching 15,500
H: Family Care/Personal Development/Personal Care and Appearance 13,400
J: Arts and Crafts 13,700
K: Authorship/Photography/Publishing/Media 15,800
L: Performing Arts 12,900
M: Sports, Games and Recreation 16,300
N: Catering/Food/Leisure Services/Tourism 16,200
P: Health Care/Medicine/Health and Safety 15,500
R: Sciences and Mathematics 11,300
S: Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 15,800
T: Construction and Property (Built Environment) 17,600
V: Services to Industry 18,400
W: Manufacturing/Production Work 16,300
X: Engineering 24,400
Y: Oil/Mining/Plastics/Chemicals 57,800
All superclass subjects 15,600

Notes:

  • Hours worked are not taken into account and include part-time and full-time earnings.
  • Some superclass groupings have been suppressed and not included due to small cohorts.
  • Only includes those completing an HNC or HND with no record of further study.
  • Median earnings may vary across superclass grouping for a range of reasons including level of qualification, location of employment and mode of employment.

Figure 1: Total earnings for full-time HNC/HND college completers who left education in 2012/13 by superclass grouping (lower quartile, median and upper quartile): 2016/17 tax year

Figure 1: Total earnings for full-time HNC/HND college completers who left education in 2012/13 by superclass grouping (lower quartile, median and upper quartile): 2016/17 tax year

Notes:

  • Hours worked are not taken into account and include part-time and full-time earnings.
  • Some superclass groupings have been suppressed and not included due to small cohorts.
  • Only includes those completing an HNC or HND with no record of further study.
  • Median earnings may vary across superclass grouping for a range of reasons including level of qualification, location of employment and mode of employment.

Contact

Email: Euan.Shields@gov.scot

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