Bachelor degree owners’ employment in Italy and in other European Countries

Traditionally, Italy had just one long-cycle university degree; the two-tier system has been introduced as implementation of the Bologna Process (1999). We are interested in examining how the new first level degree, Bachelor in Europe and “Laurea L” in Italy, has worked in our country, mainly as far as employability is concerned. Our analysis has been framed in the European context, particularly looking at Bachelors in countries where traditionally there was only one level. The basic question is: has the new first-cycle degree been accepted by the labour market, or is it considered merely as an intermediate step in a route leading to a Master degree? As expected, there are differences in the countries under scrutiny, but there are also common indications. Answers for Italy are found analysing in detail existing surveys, which give precise indications about working and study conditions of 2007 and 2008 graduates, interviewed one year after graduation. Employment rate is not negligible, even if it is of course lower for L than from second level graduates; sometimes, work is combined with prosecution of studies. Effects of the crisis are present for both types of graduates. Some preliminary conclusions are drawn, and possible developments of the research are indicated.