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17 August 2026
Positive destinations for 90% of Northern Ireland FE college leavers
The Department for the Economy has published its Further Education Outcomes report for the 2024/25 academic year, drawn from the annual survey of FE college leavers around six months after they complete a regulated qualification at Level 3 or below. The headline finding is strong: 90% of leavers reported a positive outcome, meaning they were in employment, further study or both.
Employment accounted for a large share of these destinations. 57% of leavers were in work within six months, and of those, 57% were in what the Department defines as a good job, meaning a permanent, non-zero hours contract paying at least the Real Living Wage. 95% were working in Northern Ireland and a quarter were employed in priority sectors of the local economy, underlining the role FE plays in feeding the regional workforce.
Progression into further learning was also significant. A third of leavers had re-enrolled in education, and of those, 86% had moved on to a course at a higher level, while 69% said their FE qualification was required to secure their place. Just 5% of leavers were unemployed six months on.
For careers practitioners, this is useful evidence to draw on when discussing vocational routes with clients who may still see FE as a second choice. The data offers a clear, current counter to that perception, showing that FE qualifications open doors to good jobs and to higher level study alike. It is a helpful reference point when supporting young people and adults weighing academic and vocational pathways, and a reminder of the added value FE colleges deliver across the sector.
Read the full Further Education Outcomes announcement.
Employment accounted for a large share of these destinations. 57% of leavers were in work within six months, and of those, 57% were in what the Department defines as a good job, meaning a permanent, non-zero hours contract paying at least the Real Living Wage. 95% were working in Northern Ireland and a quarter were employed in priority sectors of the local economy, underlining the role FE plays in feeding the regional workforce.
Progression into further learning was also significant. A third of leavers had re-enrolled in education, and of those, 86% had moved on to a course at a higher level, while 69% said their FE qualification was required to secure their place. Just 5% of leavers were unemployed six months on.
For careers practitioners, this is useful evidence to draw on when discussing vocational routes with clients who may still see FE as a second choice. The data offers a clear, current counter to that perception, showing that FE qualifications open doors to good jobs and to higher level study alike. It is a helpful reference point when supporting young people and adults weighing academic and vocational pathways, and a reminder of the added value FE colleges deliver across the sector.
Read the full Further Education Outcomes announcement.
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