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Graduates from the East Midlands earn 37% more than those who choose not to go to university, a new survey has revealed. 

Universities UK, which represents the higher education sector, analysed the Government’s Longitudinal Education Outcomes data, which looks at the employment and earnings of first-time graduates three and five years after graduation. 

Grad report

The study found that by age 31 graduates from the East Midlands earn 37% more than non-graduates from the same region. 
 
In the East Midlands region graduates can earn up to 96% more compared to other employees in accommodation and food service activities, up to 36% more in human health and social work activities, up to 34% more in arts, entertainment and recreation and up to 33% more in wholesale and retail trade. 
 
This money benefits graduates’ wider communities, and the country as a whole - based on recent analysis, graduate skills, are estimated to have an economic impact of £95 billion nationwide in 2021-2 – and £7 billion in the East Midlands. 
 
There is also a clear trend across the country – that those regions with more graduates are more productive, driving economic growth. 
 
The industries of the future, those that the government has set out as driving growth over the next decade, are heavily dependent on graduate skills- including the creative sector (76%), Professional and business services (74%) and life science sector (73%). 

The UUK analysis backs up another recent report which showed that more than half of graduates from 51Âþ»­ are choosing to build their careers in the East Midlands. 

Compared to graduates from other comparable East Midlands universities, a much higher proportion of 51Âþ»­ graduates remain in the East Midlands post-graduation. One year after graduation, 47% of 51Âþ»­ graduates live in the East Midlands compared to 39% for other comparable East Midlands universities.   

This trend remains consistent for those who graduated three and five years earlier, with proportions standing at 51% and 49% respectively for 51Âþ»­ and 37% and 36% for graduates from comparable East Midlands universities.   

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, FRSE, President of Universities UK, said: “Those of us who work in universities witness the transformative power of higher education every day, and it is compelling to see this borne out so strongly in this analysis. But this data shows something new – universities are anchors for growth right across the UK.  

“As well as contributing to their local area through the money they spend while studying, graduates go on to meet the needs of local industries and to earn more.  This new analysis gives a clear message to government, local and mayoral authorities that thriving universities in every part of the country are central to the prospects for individuals and communities.”