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Beyond Graduation: Socio-economic Background and Post-university Outcomes of Australian Graduates

Author

Listed:
  • Wojtek Tomaszewski

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

  • Francisco Perales

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

  • Ning Xiang

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

  • Matthias Kubler

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

Abstract

Research consistently shows that higher-education participation has positive impacts on individual outcomes. However, few studies explicitly consider differences in these impacts by socio-economic background (SEB), and those which do fail to examine graduate trajectories over the long run, non-labor outcomes and relative returns. We address these knowledge gaps by investigating the short- and long-term socio-economic trajectories of Australian university graduates from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds across multiple domains. We use high-quality longitudinal data from two sources: the Australian Longitudinal Census Dataset and the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Low-SEB graduates experienced short-term post-graduation disadvantage in employment and occupational status, but not wages. They also experienced lower job and financial security up to 5 years post-graduation. Despite this, low-SEB graduates benefited more from higher education in relative terms—that is, university education improves the situation of low-SEB individuals to a greater extent than it does for high-SEB individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Wojtek Tomaszewski & Francisco Perales & Ning Xiang & Matthias Kubler, 2021. "Beyond Graduation: Socio-economic Background and Post-university Outcomes of Australian Graduates," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 62(1), pages 26-44, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:62:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11162-019-09578-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-019-09578-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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