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Aims: Diet‐related chronic disease contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. Dietitians are best placed to address this disease burden, yet graduate dietitians may struggle to find employment. This study aimed to explore dietetics graduates' experiences of employment and employability, up to 6‐month post‐degree completion. Methods: Secondary data analysis of in‐depth qualitative interview data and longitudinal audio‐diaries was undertaken. An interpretivist approach was employed whereby knowledge was viewed as subjective and multiple realities exist. A total of five entrance interviews, 31 audio‐diaries and three exit interviews, from nine graduates were included in the analysis. This comprised 12 h of longitudinal audio data. Thematic analysis was undertaken using a framework analysis method. Results: Four key themes were identified: (1) The tumultuous process of applying for jobs demonstrated that graduates struggled with repeated rejections. (2) The uncertain journey to employment indicated that job‐seeking was a limbo stage marked by uncertainty. (3) Feeling the pressure showed that graduates experienced pressure from multiple sources. (4) Enhancing employability explained that graduates were not prepared for available employment opportunities, but utilised resources to increase their employability. Conclusion: Diverse placement experiences may better prepare graduates for available employment opportunities. To enhance employability, it may be beneficial to assist students to develop job‐seeking skills, and to engage in networking and volunteering experiences during their education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is becoming increasingly apparent that, in order to understand a range of socio-economic outcomes, research needs to be focused on a multi-dimensional approach that accounts for individual characteristics and behaviours together with locality and activity within space and place. Within labour market analysis there is a need to situate empirical analysis within a conceptual framework that considers both the assets of individuals within the labour force and the social and local labour market contexts in which they find themselves. Using a broad notion of employability, this paper develops an analysis of unemployment in Australia's metropolitan labour markets. Specifically it uses a combination of individual survey data and aggregate labour market data to consider the associations between these multi-level factors. It finds that, while individual characteristics are important in understanding unemployment in metropolitan areas, it is equally the case that the strength of spatially distinct labour markets also plays a role. The paper reaches the conclusion that, while contemporary labour market policy tends to focus on individual characteristics, there is a need to widen the policy understanding of labour market outcomes so that other broader contexts, including the impact of space and place, are also seen as being influential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]