In 2022, graduate employers from across the country ranked engineering and related technologies as the best performers in an annual employer survey.
The Employee Satisfaction Survey (ESS) by Quality Indicators for Learning and Technology is a national survey and the largest of its kind. It reports the views of over 3000 graduate employers about the attributes of recent graduates from Australian universities.
Engineers Australia’s Chief Engineer Jane MacMaster says “the continued high performance of engineering graduates underscores the value they bring to various industries and their potential to drive positive change in our society.”
The survey measures how well graduates meet employer needs by asking supervisors to provide feedback about the generic skills, technical skills and work readiness of the graduates employed in their workplace.
Graduate employers reported highest overall satisfaction with engineering and related technologies graduates at just over 90 per cent.
Employers of engineering graduates rated their skills above average. Skills such as foundation skills, collaborative skills, technical skills, and employability skills were measured and scored over 90 per cent.
“We are incredibly proud of these young professionals, who are playing a vital role in shaping the future through their creative problem-solving and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Jane says.
“This accomplishment reflects not only their individual capabilities but also the high standard of engineering education they receive from our world-class institutions."
Employer satisfaction for engineering graduates ranked higher than information technology, education, health, society and culture, and agriculture and environmental studies.
Insights from this survey are important because they are used to better understand the specific skills and attributes needed in the workforce. It also demonstrates the quality of engineering graduates and how well higher education is preparing them for their roles.
Find out more about the survey here.