HBO graduates remain strong in the job market, despite a slight slowdown

Graduates of higher professional education still find work relatively quickly and generally fit well into the job market. At the same time, the latest figures from the HBO Monitor 2025 show that the labor market position of HBO graduates is slightly less favorable than it was a year ago. This is evident from the annual survey conducted by the Research Center for Education and the Labor Market (ROA) at Maastricht University, which surveyed over 27,000 graduates.

Job market remains strong, despite slight decline

A year and a half after graduation, 4% of higher professional education graduates are unemployed, compared to 3.5% a year earlier. The transition to work also takes slightly longer: 83% find a job immediately after graduation, compared to 85% in 2024. At the same time, the overall picture remains positive. Three-quarters of graduates work in their own or a related field, and 76% hold a position at the higher professional education level or higher.

Differences between sectors and degree programs

Graduates in education and healthcare, in particular, continue to enjoy very strong job prospects. In education, 96% find work immediately, and in healthcare, 92%. Sectors such as engineering and agriculture & food also remain relatively strong labor market sectors with a good alignment between education and employment. It is also notable that graduates of associate degree programs still find work the fastest: approximately 90% transition directly into employment. On average, graduates with a master’s degree from universities of applied sciences are more likely to have a permanent contract and a higher salary, although this year’s figures also show an increase in unemployment among master’s graduates. Further analyses by ROA suggest that this increase is primarily concentrated in specific creative and hybrid profiles within engineering, economics, and the arts, and less so in traditional technical, education, or healthcare master’s programs.

Broader economic picture

The researchers view recent developments primarily as part of a broader social and economic trend.
“We are likely seeing, in part, a return to normalcy following the exceptionally tight labor market in the years immediately after the pandemic,” says Barbara Belfi, project leader of the HBO-Monitor at ROA. “In addition, broader economic uncertainties likely play a role, such as geopolitical tensions, wars, rising costs, and uncertainty in the global economy. That could contribute to greater caution among employers regarding new hires. At the same time, job market prospects for HBO graduates remain historically strong. So while this isn’t immediately cause for concern, it is important to continue monitoring these developments closely.”

Universities of Applied Sciences Play a Key Role in the Regional Labor Market
The monitor also shows that universities of applied sciences fulfill an important regional function. Approximately 76% of graduates work within 50 kilometers of the location where they completed their studies. Particularly in sectors such as education and healthcare, many graduates continue to work in the region where they were educated.

About the HBO Monitor

The HBO Monitor is an annual survey conducted by the ROA, Maastricht University, commissioned by the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences. The monitor assesses the labor market position of HBO graduates, including unemployment, employment conditions, the alignment between education and work, and preparation for the labor market. For the 2025 edition, over 27,000 graduates completed the survey.

> See the latest results on the HBO-Monitor website