UK: Unemployment for male graduates far worse than for female graduates – findings of a HEPI report

Report here. Excerpt:

"An analysis by HEPI (published today, 4 July 2010) of the most recent data available reveals that graduate unemployment has worsened sharply for both male and female graduates in just one year and has increased by 25 per cent from 11.1 per cent in December 2008 to 14.0 per cent in December 2009. But the unemployment position appears to be far worse for males than for females: in December 2009 17.2 per cent of young male graduates were unemployed compared to 11.2 per cent of female graduates.
...
However, the HEPI report makes clear that the graduate employment picture needs to be understood in the context of the lower participation, higher drop-out and higher unemployment rates for men. Combined, these factors mean that just under half (44 per cent) of the graduate jobs are held by men, even though the male population is larger. To the extent that men are disadvantaged, their disadvantage appears to arise from their lower participation in higher education, and their subsequent performance there. Women appear to have the advantage over men when it comes to participation in HE and their subsequent HE performance, but there is one key respect in the transition to work where they appear to be at a disadvantage."