Study title

The survey charted the career and employment situation of people who had graduated from Finnish universities with a lower (BA/BSc or equivalent) or higher (MA/MSc or equivalent) degree in 2005. The survey was conducted five years after graduation. The first part investigated the respondents' education and work history. They were asked whether they had, after graduation, participated in job-related training, career guidance or had studied for or completed any additional professional qualification or higher education degree. Further questions covered the number of employers, number of separate employment contracts and offices, whether the respondents had been entrepreneurs, self-employed or freelancers and for how long, or whether they had been outside the labour market because of a family leave. Periods of unemployment, obstacles to getting a job (e.g. lack of experience, challenging labour market situation in the field, gender), and employment situation at the time of graduation were investigated. Those who had not been employed at the time of graduation were asked how long it had taken to get their first job. Characteristics of the first job after graduation were surveyed, including contract type, employer type, and type of work. The respondents were also asked whether the first job had required an academic degree, whether it had been commensurate with their qualification, and to what extend they had been able to utilise knowledge and skills gained during their university studies. The next section focused on the respondents' current employment situation. Questions covered the type of main employer, type of work, monthly gross wage income, whether they could utilise the knowledge and skills gained during their university studies, whether the job was commensurate with their level of education, and if not, why they had accepted the job. The respondents were presented with a number of statements relating to their job (e.g. 'my work is interesting', 'I have too much...