Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess factors affecting employment probability for a cohort of Italian graduates (2007) three years after degree achievement (2010). Using the most recent University Graduates' Vocational Integration Survey conducted by the Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2011, part of the ISTAT surveys system studying on the transition from educationto employment, the major finding suggests that the most relevant variable determining graduates' employment is work experience gained in the labour market. Moreover, work skills become more relevant for individuals who graduate at older ages (30+). Thus, it could be stated that, in Italy, the "myth" of degree attainment is largely connected to a "status symbol". In fact, Italian students do not decide to attend university merely to gain faster access to the labour market. Indeed, their essential aim is to obtain virtual employment opportunities. Most Italian graduates do not have a clear knowledge of the work environment because of the weak link connecting experience and skills acquired for the specific needs of the labour market. One implication of this finding is the possibility that educational policies could be efficient only at lower levels of education, degrees that generally do not completely fulfill market needs.