An unjust balance: a systematic review of the employability perceptions of UK undergraduates from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds
An unjust balance: a systematic review of the employability perceptions of UK undergraduates from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds
A systematic review of qualitative primary data (2010–2021) was undertaken to understand how inequality is experienced by undergraduate students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds transitioning to the UK labour market. A ten-step protocol for qualitative synthesis was adapted to guide the study, whilst the PRISMA flow diagram was used to report the search. Data was extracted from 14 papers with thematic synthesis used to analyse the results inductively. This review illustrates multiple barriers faced by disadvantaged socio-economic students in a competitive graduate labour market and the severe impact this may have on student career development. Disadvantaged students often apply more effort than advantaged counterparts in seeking work and internship opportunities and live more precariously, as they lack finance to buffer them. In contrast, advantaged socio-economic status students can act quickly to build their employability profiles from the beginning of their degree studies, with the strategic application of social, cultural and economic capital. The qualitative papers in this review complement previous quantitative research, illustrating that despite participation rates in high education increasing for disadvantaged students, their career outcomes have not generally improved relative to their more advantaged peers. The review includes recommendations for stakeholders including government, universities, careers services and employers.
Employability, Socio-economic status, capitals, degree, disadvantage, transition
570 - 593
McCafferty, Hazel, Elaine
8efcc4b4-60c8-49ff-8ee4-3fde23fe8304
12 October 2022
McCafferty, Hazel, Elaine
8efcc4b4-60c8-49ff-8ee4-3fde23fe8304
McCafferty, Hazel, Elaine
(2022)
An unjust balance: a systematic review of the employability perceptions of UK undergraduates from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 27 (4), .
(doi:10.1080/13596748.2022.2110774).
Abstract
A systematic review of qualitative primary data (2010–2021) was undertaken to understand how inequality is experienced by undergraduate students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds transitioning to the UK labour market. A ten-step protocol for qualitative synthesis was adapted to guide the study, whilst the PRISMA flow diagram was used to report the search. Data was extracted from 14 papers with thematic synthesis used to analyse the results inductively. This review illustrates multiple barriers faced by disadvantaged socio-economic students in a competitive graduate labour market and the severe impact this may have on student career development. Disadvantaged students often apply more effort than advantaged counterparts in seeking work and internship opportunities and live more precariously, as they lack finance to buffer them. In contrast, advantaged socio-economic status students can act quickly to build their employability profiles from the beginning of their degree studies, with the strategic application of social, cultural and economic capital. The qualitative papers in this review complement previous quantitative research, illustrating that despite participation rates in high education increasing for disadvantaged students, their career outcomes have not generally improved relative to their more advantaged peers. The review includes recommendations for stakeholders including government, universities, careers services and employers.
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An unjust balance a systematic review of the employability perceptions of UK undergraduates from disadvantaged socio economic backgrounds
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An Unjust Balance Research in Post-Compulsory Education Accepted Manuscript
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Figure 1: Prisma Flow Diagram
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Figure 2: Contrasting Experiences – An Unjust Balance
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Accepted/In Press date: 25 March 2022
Published date: 12 October 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership under Grant No: ES/P000673/1. Thank you for the support of Professor Michael Tomlinson and Dr Sarah Kirby (University of Southampton) in giving feedback on the contents of the manuscript and Vicky Fenerty (Engagement Librarian, University of Southampton) for reviewing the search strategies employed.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords:
Employability, Socio-economic status, capitals, degree, disadvantage, transition
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 456536
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/456536
ISSN: 1359-6748
PURE UUID: f6b8bc4b-2fb9-431d-823e-9fbc76466e4e
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Date deposited: 04 May 2022 17:11
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:57
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Author:
Hazel, Elaine McCafferty
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