Diverging labour market trajectories of Australian graduates from advantaged and disadvantaged social backgrounds: A longitudinal analysis of population-wide linked administrative data

Abstract

Despite mounting evidence that university participation enhances labour market prospects, there are growing concerns about its unequal returns. This study uses novel large-scale linked administrative data covering the full population of individuals graduating from Australian universities over the 2005–11 period to examine the labour market trajectories of graduates from multiple disadvantaged social backgrounds (based on socio-economic, migration and disability status, ethnicity and location) in comparison with their more advantaged peers, over a ten-year observation window. The findings reveal substantial heterogeneity in the income and unemployment benefit receipt trajectories of graduates from different groups. This has important implications for labour market policies aimed at improving social equity.