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The gender imbalances that existed among graduates a decade ago have virtually been eradicated. In 1985 only 39% of the those who graduated from South African universities were women, whereas in 1994 women constituted almost half of the graduates. This is one of the interesting findings published by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in a new publication, The Graduate, that provides information on income trends and the profile of South Africa?s graduate population, including comparable statistics for the years 1980 to 1994. In co-operation with South African universities, the HSRC has maintained a Register of Graduates since 1965. At present the database contains biographical and educational information on approximately 470 000 individuals. "Although graduates constitute a relatively small component of the total workforce, their strategic importance is unquestioned and information about them is of great interest and value to a wide variety of people and organisations. The HSRC is consequently conducting a survey on issues such as the employment (and unemployment) of graduates, entrepreneurship and the incomes derived from occupational activities," says Mrs Elize van Zyl, the HSRC?s Programme Manager: Human Resources Information and Planning. Some interesting findings published in The Graduate include the following: In 1994 more than 35% of all graduates in South Africa held a postgraduate qualification. The breakdown of study fields showed, however, that the medical sciences lagged behind the natural, human and management sciences with only 18% completing a second degree. The percentage of graduates who qualified in the natural sciences decreased from 22% in 1985 to 17% in 1994. The percentage of human sciences and management science graduates each increased by 3% to 48% and 26% respectively. The percentage of women who qualified in the human, medical and management sciences increased, while the natural sciences remained largely the domain of men. In 1994 the largest portion (42%) of graduates lived in Gauteng, followed by 19% in the Western Cape, 14% in KwaZulu-Natal, and 2% in the Northern Cape.
Since 1971 regular surveys have been conducted by the HSRC to monitor the occupational income of graduates in South Africa. The most recent survey, among 40 000 graduates, was conducted in 1994. The survey revealed the following: The average income package of self-employed people was R142 600 a year. In comparison, employees in the public sector earned R90 300 and employees in the private sector R117 100. Self-employed people worked 48 hours a week to earn their higher income, while employees in the public and private sector worked 40 and 43 hours a week respectively. During the period 1980 to 1994, women were underrepresented in the high-paying occupations, and earned income packages considerably lower than those of men. The top earners in both 1990 and 1994 were self-employed stockbrokers. Self-employed graduates in the medical field took up the following positions in 1994: medical pathologists ? 2nd; dental specialists ? 3rd; radiologists ? 5th; orthopaedists or orthopaedic surgeons ? 10th. Interestingly, the income of human resources directors in the private sector has improved dramatically to put them in 9th place compared to 22nd place in 1990.
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