An Investigation of the Employment Outcomes and Perceived Preparedness for Employment of Irish Dietetics Graduates

Dietetic education should reflect evidence on current practice and demands of the profession yet information regarding the employment profile of dietitians in Ireland is limited. The study aimed to establish the employment profile of graduate dietitians in Ireland and assess their perceived preparedness for employment.

A mixed methods design was used. Individuals who graduated from dietetic degrees in Ireland between 2020 and 2024 were invited to participate. An online survey was used to collect information on employment profile and perceived preparedness for employment. Semi-structured interviews explored graduate experiences during their dietetic education and employment in more depth. Interview data were analysed to construct thematic domains.

The online survey had a 49% response rate (132/271). The majority of graduates were employed in hospital dietetics for their first role postgraduation (67%, n = 90) and for their current employment (58%, n = 76). Nondietetic related roles (19%, n = 25) was the second most common current employment followed by community dietetics (12%, n = 16). At the time of survey completion, 29% (n = 37) were living outside Ireland. Most graduates felt slightly (40%, n = 51) or very prepared (46%, n = 59) for their first employment. Four themes were identified from the 13 semi-structured interviews: (1) the value of placement, (2) narrow career preparedness, (3) struggling with the transition to employment and (4) workplace support.

This is the first study to establish the employment profile and perceived preparedness of Irish dietetic graduates. Continued graduate tracking and research on solutions to the challenges highlighted in this study could provide evidence to support curricula alignment with workforce demands.