Education students are the most likely to find a job when they graduate, a major survey has found.
The results show that 93% of recent education graduates were employed or about to begin work.
The research from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) found graduates in areas such as health and welfare (87%), ICT (82%) and engineering (82%) also had particularly high 'employment outcomes'.
It found that students who studied topics such as literature and philosophy were the least likely to be employed.
However, those who'd completed their arts and humanities studies were among the highest percentages in further study (24%).
The study looked at 29,000 individuals who graduated in 2017.
Overall, 78% of the those surveyed are working or due to start work, while 14% are in further education or training.
Image: HEAAround 5% are seeking work, while the remainder are engaged in 'other activities' such as travelling.
It also found that 90% of those who graduate and go into work find employment in Ireland.
The average salary of graduates working full-time was €33,574.
'Overwhelming majority' of graduates in employment
Valarie Harvey from the HEA explained that those who go on to do further study are the most employable.
She observed: "The overwhelming majority of all graduates are working.
"As you move through the levels of educational attainment, higher numbers are in employment.
"We found that 75% of honours degree, 86% of post-graduate taught, and 91% of post-graduate research graduates are in employment."
The publication of the findings have been welcomed by Mary Mitchell O'Connor, the minister of state for higher education.
She explained: "Assessment of such data is paramount to our understanding of issues such as the gender based earnings gap and progression through higher education and will inform policy in these areas into the future.
‘The data that has been produced in this report allows us to be aware of the destinations of graduates from higher education institutions and the perception of graduates on the relevance of their higher education experience."
