Fifth of bar staff went to university fuelling fears modern-style degrees are worthless, study shows

One in five bar staff are now graduates and experts say it is because university leavers find it increasingly hard to find professional work.

Nineteen per cent of bar workers went to university, compared with 3 per cent 30 years ago, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found.

The research, based on data from 6,000 workers, also found that 17 per cent of waiters are graduates, compared with 2 per cent three decades ago.

The same is true of 14 per cent of retail staff, 15 per cent of care workers and 24 per cent of security guards. 

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One in five bar staff are now graduates and experts say it is because university leavers find it increasingly hard to find professional work (stock image)

It comes amid growing fears that many youngsters are taking ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees, which do not properly prepare them for professional work. Around half of young people now study for a degree.

Lizzie Crowley, of the CIPD, said: ‘Successive governments’ focus on boosting the supply of higher-level qualifications to the labour market has failed to create nearly enough of the high-skill, high-wage jobs that the country needs.’

She said: ‘While graduate-level qualifications are undoubtedly essential in many roles and industries, the significant growth of graduates in non-graduate jobs is damaging for individuals, employers and the economy.

‘A growing number of graduates are stuck in low-skilled jobs, while employers find it harder to motivate and retain overqualified graduates, undermining workplace productivity.

It comes amid growing fears that many youngsters are taking ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees, which do not properly prepare them for professional work. Around half of young people now study for a degree (stock image)

‘Successive governments’ focus on boosting the supply of higher-level qualifications to the labour market has failed to create nearly enough of the high-skill, high-wage jobs that the country needs.’

The research found overqualified graduates have lower job and life satisfaction.

Just over half – 54 per cent – of overqualified graduates report being either very satisfied or satisfied with their current jobs, compared to nearly three-quarters – 72 per cent – of well-matched graduates.