35 UNITE STUDENTS | APPLICANT INDEX REPORT | 2023 The impact of paid work As discussed above, undertaking paid work is associated with improved social confidence and greater independence as well as a higher level of confidence about employability. Overall 68% of applicants have done paid work over the last year. They are more likely to be mature applicants, and to be White or mixed race. LGBTQ+ applicants were less likely to have done paid work. It seems likely that applicants who already have a higher level of confidence and independence are more likely to undertake paid work, including mature applicants who may have been in the workforce before applying to university. Yet work experience does have clear benefits, especially when it comes to employability, and it enables younger applicants to practise communication skills in a wider environment. Diversity and non-disclosure The results of the demographic questions in the survey suggest that this cohort is more diverse than has previously been assumed. While almost a quarter (23%) of applicants self-identified their sexuality as lesbian, gay, bi, queer, asexual, pansexual or ‘in another way’, just over half (58%) of them shared this information when applying for university. This implies that diversity data collected by UCAS under-report the actual number of LGBTQ+ applicants, and therefore that current national statistics under-estimate the diversity of the cohort. When it comes to disclosing a disability or health condition, just over half (56%) of those with a disability or health condition have already shared this information with their university but nearly one in five (18%) do not intend to share this information at all. Voting This year we asked UK applicants if they intended to vote in the next general election, and whether they had registered to vote. 70% of applicants intend to vote, and 69% are already registered to vote. Only 15% are not intending to vote. However some demographic groups are less likely to vote. One in five (20%) male applicants, 21% of applicants from socio-economic groups C2DE and a quarter (25%) of Black applicants don’t intend to vote in the next general election. Around a third of Black (30%) and Asian (34%) applicants are not registered to vote compared to an average of 23% across the applicant population. TOPICAL ISSUES This section draws on wider survey questions to provide a brief analysis of topical issues. Figure 26 : Have you done paid work during the last year? ■ Yes These findings suggest that taking on paid work before going to university has positive benefits, but it also poses further questions. How much paid work is optimal? Are the benefits greater if the work aligns with future career ambitions? At what point does paid work become detrimental to wellbeing and academic performance? It is also not clear why LGBTQ+ applicants are less likely to have been in paid work, and this would benefit from further research. Are there groups of students who find it more difficult to access paid work, and why is this the case? 32% 68% ■ No