Tracking graduate outcomes is crucial to improving the quality of education for students and outcomes for graduates. In assessing relevance of studies, gender pay gaps and employment outcomes (amongst many other factors), policymakers can bring the voice of graduates to the forefront of evidence-based decisions.

Currently, there are two main approaches to tracking graduate outcomes, detailed below.

1. Graduate Outcomes Survey (HEA)

Ireland has tracked graduate outcomes through an annual survey since 1982 which is completed by graduates nine months after graduation. Graduates are surveyed by their institutions, and the results are analyzed and published as a national report by the Higher Education Authority. The survey aims to identify the main destination of graduates nine months after graduation (Employment, Continuing Study, Unemployment and Other Activities). In addition, the survey aims to identify graduate perception of the requirement of their qualification and relevance of their studies for their job, as well as the motivations of those pursuing continuing study or training.

The most recent survey results (Class of 2024) was published in November 2025. Just under 71,000 2024 graduates were surveyed with a response rate of 50.9%. The survey results show that 80.2% of graduates were working or due to start work 9 months after graduation. A further 10.7% were engaged in further study. The survey results can be explored in more detail here: https://hea.ie/statistics/graduate-outcomes/key-findings-go-2024/

The survey was reviewed in 2024 and a revised survey instrument will be used in 2026. More information about the review of the survey and the changes to take place in 2026 can be found at this link:
https://hea.ie/statistics/graduate-outcomes/graduate-outcomes-survey-review/

2. Higher Education Outcomes (CSO)

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) utilizes administrative datasets to form a longitudinal view of graduates’ outcomes. This involves collating data from various relevant public bodies, such as salary data from Revenue, benefits data from the Department of Social Protection, and graduate data from the HEA. Therefore, this approach enables the tracking of graduates longitudinally up to 10 years after graduation.

For the most recent report, see here.