JU graduates find jobs, but clear disparities remain in working life

Graduates from Jönköping University (JU) enjoy a strong position in the labour market after completing their studies. At the same time, a new study from JU highlights challenges related to gender pay equality among graduates, as well as barriers international students face when entering the local labour market.

“The study provides valuable insights into how graduates establish themselves after graduation and what influences their decision to remain in the region,” says Lucia Naldi, Professor of Business Administration at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) and project leader of the study.

The study combines 20 years of register data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) with a survey completed by more than 900 students. It examines both where former JU students settle after graduation and which factors they believe influence their willingness to remain in the region.

One clear finding is that women experience lower salary growth than men on average. Differences are already evident in starting salaries and increase during the first years of working life.

Five years after graduation, women typically earn approximately 23–25 per cent less than men (based on median salaries) regardless of educational background. The differences are visible across all study programmes and, according to the researchers, emerge later in working life rather than being explained by choice of education.

“These are important insights. They show that achieving equality in career development must be seen as a shared responsibility between academia and employers,” says Joaquín Cestino Castilla, Assistant Professor at JIBS.

Stronger links between studies and working life are needed

The study also shows that international students often participate in career-related activities during their studies. However, they are less likely to undertake internships or develop connections with the local labour market.

“International students who want to stay in Sweden rarely place a strong emphasis on learning Swedish, which can make it more difficult when they later enter the labour market,” says Annika Ehlers, Doctoral Student at JIBS.

The researchers argue that this suggests there is potential to make better use of international talent, for example by strengthening the links between studies, language learning and working life.

“By taking a more proactive approach to equal career development and strengthening the connection between studies and working life, we can create better conditions for all students to establish themselves and contribute to the region’s development,” says Massimo Baú, Professor of Business Administration at JIBS.