WARNING: This is a work-in-progress.
True North Data Explorer

Graduate retention

By region

Using Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Statistics we can look at how well different regions and nations of the UK retain their graduates after education. We calculate the percentage of graduates who work in the same region/nation for work as the region/nation of their higher education provider.

Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
South West
South East
London
East of England
West Midlands
East Midlands
Yorkshire and The Humber
North West
North East
Year201720182019202020212022Retention rate by region (%)010020406080North East
2017/18: 55.3%North East
2018/19: 54.5%North East
2019/20: 53.3%North East
2020/21: 53.8%North East
2021/22: 53.7%North West
2017/18: 67.4%North West
2018/19: 66.9%North West
2019/20: 66%North West
2020/21: 66.8%North West
2021/22: 68.6%Yorkshire and The Humber
2017/18: 54%Yorkshire and The Humber
2018/19: 55%Yorkshire and The Humber
2019/20: 53.2%Yorkshire and The Humber
2020/21: 54.1%Yorkshire and The Humber
2021/22: 55.7%East Midlands
2017/18: 42.5%East Midlands
2018/19: 41.1%East Midlands
2019/20: 39.1%East Midlands
2020/21: 39.4%East Midlands
2021/22: 40.5%West Midlands
2017/18: 52.3%West Midlands
2018/19: 52.1%West Midlands
2019/20: 50.3%West Midlands
2020/21: 50.6%West Midlands
2021/22: 51.2%East of England
2017/18: 50.1%East of England
2018/19: 50.2%East of England
2019/20: 48.5%East of England
2020/21: 47.4%East of England
2021/22: 47.3%London
2017/18: 71.3%London
2018/19: 70.8%London
2019/20: 70%London
2020/21: 69.2%London
2021/22: 70.2%South East
2017/18: 45.4%South East
2018/19: 46.2%South East
2019/20: 46%South East
2020/21: 42.8%South East
2021/22: 44%South West
2017/18: 50.8%South West
2018/19: 51.6%South West
2019/20: 50.2%South West
2020/21: 50.4%South West
2021/22: 51.3%Northern Ireland
2017/18: 91.3%Northern Ireland
2018/19: 91.2%Northern Ireland
2019/20: 90.5%Northern Ireland
2020/21: 88.5%Northern Ireland
2021/22: 89.9%Scotland
2017/18: 81.9%Scotland
2018/19: 82.8%Scotland
2019/20: 81.8%Scotland
2020/21: 81%Scotland
2021/22: 80.8%Wales
2017/18: 60.7%Wales
2018/19: 59.9%Wales
2019/20: 60.1%Wales
2020/21: 59.7%Wales
2021/22: 60.7%

The East Midlands, South East, and East of England all have graduate retention below 50% (2021/22). This does not necessarily mean recent graduates relocate for work as a significant portion may commute to work in London given the transport links available. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic allowed for many more options around remote working meaning that recent graduates may reside in one region but work for an organisation in another.

100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Hexmap East Midlands
Graduate retention 2021/22: 40.5% East of England
Graduate retention 2021/22: 47.3% London
Graduate retention 2021/22: 70.2% North East
Graduate retention 2021/22: 53.7% North West
Graduate retention 2021/22: 68.6% Northern Ireland
Graduate retention 2021/22: 89.9% Scotland
Graduate retention 2021/22: 80.8% South East
Graduate retention 2021/22: 44% South West
Graduate retention 2021/22: 51.3% Wales
Graduate retention 2021/22: 60.7% West Midlands
Graduate retention 2021/22: 51.2% Yorkshire and The Humber
Graduate retention 2021/22: 55.7%