Global perspectives on international student employability

In recent years, employability has become a key driver in international education. In the United States, the wage premium for a four-year degree has doubled over the past 40 years, primarily because of decreases in unskilled wages, while the cost of that degree has tripled (Carlson, 2017). Universities New Zealand calculated a $1.6m lifetime earnings premium for a university graduate (UNZ, 2016). However, as access to education is rising in the developed world, a first degree may no longer be a sufficient distinguisher for some labour markets.