Too many graduates in non-professional jobs, HR body says

Many perhaps could initially be better redirected to level 3/4 courses that lead to Technician equivalent roles, but professional Societies/Institutes and employers would probably need to facilitate and support more readily achievable progression to Chartered grade of membership. However this step, generally requires further study during a busy career and/or family commitments, commonly inconvenient, and usually only possible with part time study. Otherwise most students may continue with the more convenient direct route of a degree alongside competitive contemporaries, then take their chances to develop worked based competency through CPD, subsequent promotion and enhanced salary prospects.

Correction: 68% of recent graduates were in what HEFCE and hesa call "professional" jobs. This category includes associate professional and technical occupations, which the Office for National Statistics makes clear can be done by people with vocational qualifications. A degree is NOT required to do these jobs. Stripping them out of the HEFCE/HESA data shows that only a minority of (employed) graduates have truly graduate- level jobs six months after graduating. Furthermore, under-employment persists and is strongly evident three and a half years after graduating.