[DanaC]

Also a good point. That said - not sure how things are playing out stateside, but over here a bit of a shift seems to be happening. I think it is a reaction to the rising fees for university and the shift from student grants and loans packages to just student loans, which means leaving university with debts of £30-40k. At the same time some industries seem to be trying to bring youngsters in from alternative streams, possibly reflecting a lack of preparation for those who go through university courses for those particular fields.

The balance is still very much skewed to graduate recruitment, but I've certainly noticed a real change in the terms of discourse around education and career options for my nieces and their friends. Amelia did in the end opt for university, but she explored several possible routes into design industries and there were far more options than I'd have thought, or that would have been available ten years ago. Not sure what Soph will decide, but I think she's always been more into the academic stuff than Meels - even she has been looking at different routes though. That those routes appear viable suggests that employers are opening up a little, presumably as a way to tackle the skills deficit.

They all seem very aware of the financial implications of university study and they give careful consideration to the pros and cons of university versus other routes in terms of career options and earning potential, and starting their career in debt.