Unemployment rates for newly-graduated architects and civil engineers have fallen from nearly 9% to just 6%, compared with 7% for all other subjects.

The study, which tracked the employment fortunes of graduates from the class 2013 just six months after they left university, reveals that architects, civil engineers and other construction professional can now count on getting a job.

Charlie Ball, deputy director of research at HECSU said: “The last 18 months are a fascinating example of how quickly the market can change, with graduates from construction-related subjects enjoying one of the most dramatic improvements in their employment outcomes.

“The variations in the employment rates of these graduates reflect the complex relationship between the construction industry and the economy.

Almost 8,500 graduates were working as engineering and building professionals, accounting for 4.5% of all graduates in employment.

Among the civil engineering nearly three quarters were in full-time employment as professionals within the industry.

Around 10% were carrying out further studies and just 6.3% were unemployed.

Fifteen per cent of those surveyed were women who had found civil engineering career jobs.