The Representation of the Graduate Labour Market: Media and Political Discourses

Abstract

This chapter outlines the representation of the graduate labour market in media and political discourses. It shows that the UK media has a strong normative stance towards the graduate labour market, assuming that the graduate labour market should be able to provide young people with successful futures. The chapter also shows through three political debates that there is a similar idealised version of the graduate labour market on display. The representation of graduate worker is aligned with different political projects that rely on a performative discourse that positions university-educated workers as a central force in improving social justice and economic prosperity.