Retail careers second only to management consultancy for earning potential

Article Type: Research news From: Education + Training, Volume 51, Issue 3

As the UKs Association of Graduate Recruiters report a salary freeze amongst graduates and a predicted 5.4 per cent decrease in graduate vacancies in 2009,research from Tesco highlights that a career in retail continues to provide graduates with one of the highest earning careers by the age of 25. A graduate at Tesco will have the potential to earn a total of £140,000 –excluding all benefits and bonuses – by the age of 25. Of 12 career paths researched, only Management Consultancy currently provides a higher total earning potential by the age of 25 (£155,000). Architecture is the least rewarding on a £35,300 total earnings by 25 (see Table II).

Table II Four-year earning potential by the age of 25

With many of the top graduate career choices such as doctors, solicitors and architects requiring training or further study prior to entering the job,graduates following these career paths will have a delayed entry into the job market. In addition, this training can also involve huge costs, which have a hugely detrimental effect on early earning power.