Career monitoring survey results 2024

The national survey was carried out in 2024 for the seventh time, and it was answered by those who graduated in 2019. For Xamk, the response rate was 30 %, with a total of 543 graduates responding to the survey (2023: 647). The nationwide response rate was 42.3 %.

XAMK ALUMNI ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR DEGREES

The majority, 89 % of the respondents, are very satisfied, satisfied or slightly satisfied with their degree.

Those who graduated with bachelor’s from engineering in Electrical and Automation, Health Care (Paramedics), engineering in Maritime Technology, engineering in HVAC Technology and Social Services are particularly satisfied with their degrees.

The respondents who graduated with master’s from Community Education, Hospitality Management and Health Care (Nurse) are the most satisfied with their degrees.

89 % of the respondents are content with their career so far. Most of the respondents (79 %) felt that their degree provided sufficient skills for working life.

Career monitoring survey 2024: Xamk graduates are satisfied with their degrees.

EMPLOYMENT AND LOCATION OF THE WORKPLACE

69 % of the respondents have been continuously employed, and 73 % work in the field corresponding to their degree. Further, 78 % have a permanent full-time job, 9 % have a temporary employment relationship, and 4 % are working as entrepreneurs or were self-employed.

At the time of graduation, the respondents’ workplace was most often located in Kymenlaakso, South Savo, or Uusimaa regions. Five years after graduation, the largest number of workplaces are still located in these regions.

Career monitoring survey 2024: Employment – after completing a University of Applied Science Degree, the employment rate is good

SKILLS NEEDED FOR WORK

According to the respondents, the most important skills and competences for the labour market are the following:

1. Initiative and self-direction
2. Independent working and time management
3. Problem solving skills
4. Communication and negotiation skills
5. Ability to learn and adopt new things
6. Stress tolerance and adaptation to new situations.

The least important skills needed in the respondents’ current job are:

1. Entrepreneurship skills
2. Research method competence
3. Business competence (e.g., budgeting)

It should be noted that the importance of entrepreneurship skills was nevertheless highlighted in the open answers of the survey. HR skills, having an entrepreneurial mindset and understanding financials are considered important skills for leading teams and independent career development.

Career monitoring survey 2024: Studies at Xamk develop essential working life skills

A MASTER’S DEGREE BOOSTS YOUR CAREER

Many of the respondents (83 %) who completed a master’s degree stated that they found a new job with a higher salary because of their degree. This is supported by the fact that the median salaries of the respondents with a bachelor’s degree and those with a master’s degree were 3,500€ and 4,500€, respectively.

90 % of the respondents feel that their master’s degree has strengthened their professional self-esteem and 82 % feel the degree has improved their position on the job market.

79% of the respondents say that their master’s degree has helped them advance in their professional career, especially in management positions (58 %).

Career monitoring survey 2024: Completing a master’s degree has improved my position in the labour market.

You can find more detailed information about the results of the career monitoring survey in Vipunen (in Finnish).