Why geographers are employable
Geography graduates are very employable, with the skills, knowledge and understanding gained during a geography degree are held in high regard by employers. They also have a good range of career options across sectors, are paid above average salaries and enjoy rapid progression to more senior roles.
What makes geography graduates stand out
Geographers develop relevant knowledge and skills over the course of their degree. As a result, they are valued highly by employers and go into a range of sectors and careers.
Geography is an intellectually challenging subject. Graduates leave with:
- A knowledge of a breadth of subject matter and the complex intersections of society and the environment.
- The ability to make sense of the world using a diverse range of methods, including both qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
- Experience of using these techniques to study real-world problems through projects, fieldwork and experiential learning.
- The capability to synthesise ideas and information and to communicate these clearly.
- The ability to use other techniques, such as laboratory study, spatial data analysis, modelling, geographic information science (GISci) and remote sensing.
- A knowledge of, and skills in, the ethical, methodological and theoretical frameworks that inform their conduct.
Knowledge, understanding and skills wanted by employers
A knowledge of global challenges
Geographers are well placed to help identify and address economic, environmental and social challenges at a range of scales. This includes issues such as climate change, migration, inequality, geopolitics, and natural disasters.
The outlines all these as major risks that could cause significant negative impact to the global economy, populations and natural resources. Geographers are uniquely well-placed to address these issues in professional roles.
Green skills
Geography degrees provide graduates with an acute awareness of the current drivers of economic change, such as climate change, net zero, the green economy and environmental management. The subject also prepares graduates for changing economic, technological, and cultural conditions of a green economy.
The growth of the ‘green economy’ is opening up new sectors and roles that demand :
- A by Deloitte documented growing demand for these skills - green jobs increased by 8% between 2021-2022 whilst total UK employment increased by 0.5%.
- The UK Government outlines the skills required to deliver UK net zero targets, including digital and data skills.
Geospatial skills
Geographers understand the importance of location data and how to unlock its value. They have skills in the collection, analysis and interpretation of geospatial data, with expertise in GIS and Earth Observation.
The Geospatial Commission estimated that location data has a potential economic benefit to the UK of up to £11 billion per year. The geospatial industry is growing rapidly and geography graduates who are able to illustrate understanding and practise of these technologies are increasingly sought after.
The for the Geospatial Commission highlights a diverse range of geospatial skills wanted by employers including processing, management, analysis, and visualisation of geospatial data.
Transferable skills
Geography graduates are numerate, literate, good team workers, able to think analytically and critically, and are highly data literate: .
These transferable skills can be applied across sectors and are valued by employers:
- identify digital literacy, data literacy and critical thinking as the top three most in-demand skills for the next 10 years.
- In 2020, as part of the Job Reset Summit, the (WEF) highlighted that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 due to the adoption of technology. The WEF identify analytical thinking and innovation, complex problem solving, critical thinking and analysis, and leadership and social influence in the top 10 skills for 2025.
- Good communication, effective leadership and management, planning and research skills and teamwork and interpersonal skills were all identified by Prospects as skills wanted by employers in a 2021 report.
Employability of geography graduates
Geography graduates have high employment rates, according to covering those who graduated in the 2022/23 academic year.
- 62% of geography, earth and environmental studies graduates (social science) graduates were employed 15 months after graduating. 7% were in further study, and 9% in employment and further study.
- 61% geography, earth and environmental studies (natural sciences) graduates were in full time employment, 9% in part time employment, 8% in employment and 9% in further study.
2025 HESA data shows that geography, earth and environmental studies (social sciences) in full time employment earned an average of £28,998 15 months after graduating. This is slightly higher than the average for all graduates (£28,598).