Accessing the Employer Reputation Dataset
From the platform home screen, you can access the dataset in two ways:
From the homepage — under the Institutional Performance heading.
From the left-hand navigation panel — by selecting Employer Reputation Index.
Understanding the Employer Reputation Indicator
The Employer Reputation indicator is calculated using responses from the QS Employer Survey, which gathers feedback from employers worldwide on which institutions they believe produce the best graduates.
For example, a university such as Harvard may currently rank #1 globally in employer reputation. The “+2” symbol next to its rank indicates that it has improved by two positions over a 10-year benchmark period.
Viewing and Adjusting Data Values
The dataset can be viewed in multiple formats:
Rank: Displays each university’s current position.
Percentile: Shows how institutions perform relative to others.
Score: Displays the overall employer reputation score out of 100.
Switch between these views using the drop-down in the column header.
Comparing Institutions
When analysing data, you may wish to focus on specific peer institutions. To do this:
Open the Overview dropdown menu.
Select your chosen institution.
Compare its performance against your Master Peer List or any custom list you’ve created.
To simplify comparisons, you can also toggle “Turn off context” — this removes unrelated institutions from view, allowing you to more easily compare your peers directly.
Filtering by Subject and Region
The dataset can be further refined using filters:
Subject filter: Choose a broad subject area (e.g., Arts and Humanities) or drill down into a specific discipline (e.g., Architecture or History) to understand graduate employability in that field.
Regional filter: Focus on specific regions (e.g., United States) to see how universities perform within that geography.
Viewing the Highlights Report
For a deeper look at a specific university’s performance, open the Highlights Report.
This report provides:
Overall rank, percentile, and nomination count
Rank progression over time
Performance within your peer list
Number of respondents nominating the institution over five years
Respondent continuity (new vs. returning nominators)
Analysing Subject and Regional Insights
The report also breaks down:
Subject-specific nominations: e.g., number of respondents nominating graduates from Accounting and Finance.
Geographic origin of respondents: e.g., total respondents from regions such as East Asia and the Pacific.
Respondent demographics: including gender and industry sector (e.g., Technology).
Top domestic institutions: for benchmarking within the same country.