UK graduates believe their skills are wasted at work

A significant proportion of the UK's graduates believe the skills they learned at university are not being effectively used by their employers, according to a new report.

The European Commission study found that a quarter of graduates in the continent feel this way, with the problem particularly pronounced in Britain and southern Europe, University World News reports.

In addition, those on humanities and social sciences courses were more likely to find their knowledge underused than science or technology students.

The report also looked at some of the major labour market trends that are affecting university-leavers, with three main issues identified: increasing volatility of labour market processes, increasing emphasis on education and training and increasing internationalisation.

In order to meet these new challenges, graduates must possess greater flexibility and a wide variety of skills than has previously been required, it suggested.

Many universities have recognised this and are beginning to equip their students with a broader range of proficiencies tailored to the world of work.