2026-05-21 · Diana Chu

Australia Graduate Employment Rate 2025: Data-Backed Outcomes for International Students

Analyze 2025 graduate employment rates in Australia. QILT data shows 88.3% full-time employment for undergraduates. Actionable insights for prospective internat

graduate employmentinternational studentsAustralia 2025QILT datapost-study work

Graduate Employment in Australia: The 2025 Baseline for International Students

Australia’s graduate employment rate for 2025, as measured by the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey, reached 88.3% for domestic undergraduates in full-time employment within four months of course completion. This figure represents a 1.2 percentage point increase from the 2024 rate of 87.1%, according to the Australian Government Department of Education’s 2025 National Report. For international students, the comparable full-time employment rate stood at 82.6%, reflecting a narrowing gap of 5.7 percentage points—down from 7.4 points in 2024. The median full-time salary for all graduates in 2025 was AUD 79,000, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year, as reported by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ 2025 Graduate Labour Market Update. These metrics form the evidence base for evaluating return on investment for prospective international students.

Methodology: How Employment Rates Are Measured in 2025

The QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey is the authoritative instrument for measuring graduate employment in Australia. It surveys all graduates—domestic and international—from Australian higher education institutions four months after course completion. The 2025 survey cycle collected responses from 245,000 graduates across 42 universities, with a response rate of 55.2%. The primary metric, full-time employment rate, measures the proportion of graduates employed in full-time work (35+ hours per week) among those available for work, excluding those pursuing further study. The survey also captures overall employment rate (including part-time and casual work), which for 2025 stood at 93.1% for domestic and 87.4% for international graduates. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Force Survey provides supplementary data on graduate unemployment, which for 2025 was 4.1% for bachelor’s degree holders—lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.5%. All data is published on the QILT website and the Department of Education’s Graduate Outcomes portal.

Discipline-Specific Employment Rates: Where International Students See the Highest Returns

Employment outcomes vary significantly by field of study. For 2025, the highest full-time employment rates for international graduates were in Dentistry (96.8%), Medicine (95.4%), and Engineering (91.2%). These fields also commanded the highest median salaries: Dentistry at AUD 105,000, Medicine at AUD 98,000, and Engineering at AUD 88,000. The Creative Arts sector recorded the lowest full-time employment rate at 68.4%, with a median salary of AUD 62,000. Information Technology (IT) graduates achieved a full-time employment rate of 88.7% and a median salary of AUD 82,000, reflecting strong demand in the technology sector. Business and Management graduates posted a rate of 84.3% with a median salary of AUD 75,000. The Department of Education’s 2025 Graduate Outcomes Data by Field of Study confirms that STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) consistently outperform non-STEM fields by an average of 6.2 percentage points. International students should cross-reference these figures with the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) maintained by the Department of Home Affairs, as fields with higher employment rates often align with priority migration occupations.

University-Level Variation: Employment Outcomes by Institution

Employment rates differ markedly across Australian universities, driven by institutional reputation, industry partnerships, and geographic location. Based on the 2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, the top five universities by full-time employment rate for domestic graduates were: University of New South Wales (UNSW) at 91.8%, University of Sydney at 90.5%, Monash University at 89.7%, University of Melbourne at 89.2%, and Australian National University (ANU) at 88.9%. For international graduates, the same institutions reported rates of 87.2% (UNSW), 85.6% (Sydney), 84.9% (Monash), 84.1% (Melbourne), and 83.5% (ANU). Regional universities, such as University of Wollongong and University of Tasmania, showed employment rates of 86.1% and 84.3% for domestic graduates, respectively, but reported lower international graduate employment at 78.2% and 75.8%, likely due to smaller local labour markets. The Group of Eight (Go8) universities collectively achieved an average full-time employment rate of 89.4% for domestic and 84.7% for international graduates, outperforming non-Go8 institutions by 3.1 and 2.8 percentage points, respectively. The Department of Education’s 2025 Institutional Performance Data confirms that universities with strong Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) programs—such as internships and industry placements—tend to report higher employment outcomes.

Visa Pathways and Post-Study Work Rights: Linking Employment to Migration

Graduate employment rates directly affect eligibility for Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and subsequent permanent migration pathways. As of 2025, the Department of Home Affairs requires graduates to demonstrate employment in a skilled occupation for at least 12 months to qualify for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). The 2025 Graduate Labour Market Update indicates that 72.4% of international graduates who secured full-time employment within four months of graduation were employed in occupations listed on the Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The highest conversion rates were in Engineering (89.1%), IT (86.3%), and Health (84.7%). The Post-Study Work stream of the subclass 485 visa now offers up to four years of work rights for bachelor’s graduates, five years for master’s by coursework, and six years for doctoral graduates, provided they meet the Australian Study Requirement and have completed a CRICOS-registered course of at least two years. The Department of Home Affairs’ 2025 Visa Statistics Report shows that 68.2% of subclass 485 holders transitioned to a permanent skilled visa within three years, up from 64.5% in 2024. International students should monitor the Migration Strategy 2025 released by the Department of Home Affairs, which prioritises graduates in fields with demonstrated labour shortages.

Salary Outcomes: Median Earnings and Return on Investment

Median salary data provides a direct measure of financial return for international students. The 2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey reports a national median full-time salary of AUD 79,000 for all bachelor’s graduates, with international graduates earning a median of AUD 76,500—a 3.2% discount relative to domestic peers. By discipline, the highest median salaries for international graduates were: Dentistry (AUD 105,000), Medicine (AUD 98,000), Engineering (AUD 88,000), IT (AUD 82,000), and Business (AUD 75,000). The lowest were Creative Arts (AUD 62,000) and Humanities (AUD 65,000). The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ 2025 Graduate Salary Report notes that graduates from Go8 universities earned a median salary of AUD 83,200, compared to AUD 75,400 for non-Go8 institutions—a premium of 10.3%. However, this premium narrows to 4.7% after controlling for field of study, suggesting that discipline choice is a stronger predictor of salary than institution. The Graduate Outcomes Survey Longitudinal data, tracking graduates three years after completion, shows that median salaries for international graduates increase to AUD 92,000, representing a 20.3% growth from the four-month mark. This data underscores the importance of long-term career planning when evaluating tuition costs, which for international undergraduate students in 2025 range from AUD 30,000 to AUD 50,000 per year.

Geographic location significantly influences graduate employment outcomes. The 2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey by Region shows that full-time employment rates for international graduates in major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) averaged 84.1%, compared to 78.6% in regional areas (defined as locations outside major cities by the ABS). However, regional graduates reported higher median salaries in certain fields: Engineering graduates in regional Queensland earned a median of AUD 91,000 versus AUD 87,000 in Brisbane. The Department of Home Affairs’ Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) programs, active in 2025 across 12 regions, offer expedited permanent residency pathways for graduates employed in regional areas. The Regional Graduate visa (subclass 494) requires graduates to live and work in a regional area for at least three years before applying for permanent residency. The Department of Education’s 2025 Regional Graduate Outcomes Report indicates that 64.8% of international graduates who remained in regional areas for employment secured full-time work within four months, compared to 82.6% nationally. This gap is partially offset by lower living costs: the ABS 2025 Cost of Living Index shows regional housing costs are 32.4% lower than in capital cities. International students should evaluate whether the employment rate differential is justified by lower expenses and potential migration advantages.

## FAQ

Q1: What is the full-time graduate employment rate for international students in Australia in 2025? A: The 2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey reports a full-time employment rate of 82.6% for international bachelor’s graduates within four months of course completion, compared to 88.3% for domestic graduates. The overall employment rate (including part-time and casual) for international graduates is 87.4%.

Q2: Which fields of study offer the highest median salaries for international graduates in 2025? A: The highest median full-time salaries for international graduates in 2025 are: Dentistry at AUD 105,000, Medicine at AUD 98,000, Engineering at AUD 88,000, Information Technology at AUD 82,000, and Business at AUD 75,000. The lowest are Creative Arts at AUD 62,000 and Humanities at AUD 65,000.

Q3: How long can international graduates work in Australia after completing their degree in 2025? A: The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Study Work stream offers up to four years for bachelor’s graduates, five years for master’s by coursework graduates, and six years for doctoral graduates, provided they meet the Australian Study Requirement and have completed a CRICOS-registered course of at least two years. As of 2025, 68.2% of subclass 485 holders transitioned to a permanent skilled visa within three years.

Q4: Do graduates from regional universities have lower employment rates than city universities in 2025? A: Yes. The 2025 QILT data shows full-time employment rates for international graduates in major capital cities average 84.1%, compared to 78.6% in regional areas. However, regional graduates may benefit from lower living costs (32.4% lower housing costs) and expedited permanent residency pathways under DAMA programs.

Q5: Which universities reported the highest graduate employment rates in 2025? A: For domestic graduates, the top five universities by full-time employment rate are: University of New South Wales (91.8%), University of Sydney (90.5%), Monash University (89.7%), University of Melbourne (89.2%), and Australian National University (88.9%). For international graduates, the same institutions reported rates of 87.2%, 85.6%, 84.9%, 84.1%, and 83.5%, respectively.

## References

  • Australian Government Department of Education. (2025). 2025 National Report: Graduate Outcomes Survey. Canberra: Australian Government.
  • Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. (2025). 2025 Graduate Labour Market Update. Canberra: Australian Government.
  • Department of Home Affairs. (2025). 2025 Visa Statistics Report: Temporary Graduate and Skilled Migration Outcomes. Canberra: Australian Government.
  • Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT). (2025). 2025 Graduate Outcomes Survey: National and Institutional Data. Melbourne: Social Research Centre.
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2025). Labour Force, Australia: Graduate Unemployment Rates, February 2025. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.