Higher education students continue to have strong job prospects, with teaching, nursing and engineering students recording some of the strongest employment outcomes.
New data from the 2026 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal released today shows over 90 per cent of 2023 higher education graduates are now in full-time work.
This is even higher for students from the regions and the bush.
Salaries also continue to increase significantly with graduates recording strong growth within the first three years after they finish their course.
The median salary for undergraduates increased from $71,400 to $93,500.
For postgraduate courses it increased from $98,000 to $120,000.
Graduates from the regions and the bush also recorded higher median salaries than graduates from metropolitan areas.
Rates of employment and salaries for people from both low and high SES backgrounds were broadly similar at the three year mark as well.
New data shows a 5.3 per cent increase in Australian students starting a university degree compared to the same time last year, including an increase in students from poor backgrounds and from the regions and the bush.
This month the Government passed legislation to help more people go to university.
It means an extra $3.6 billion in funding for universities and an extra 230,000 commencing students over the next decade.
This will help more people get the skills they need and that Australia needs.
The 2026 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal reports are now available.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"These results are very encouraging.
"Graduates are finding jobs and their wages are continuing to go up.
"The next step is helping even more people go to university.
"That's what the legislation we have just passed is all about.
"It means more teachers, more nurses, and more engineers. More of the skills Australia needs."
