Education
June 15, 2009

Education Minister Releases CareerSearch 2008

Detailed program-level information on employment experiences and earnings of graduates is now available for students, career counsellors and educational institutions. Today, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, released CareerSearch 2008, Employment Experience and Earnings of 2006 Graduates. This comprehensive report provides information on students who graduated from public and private post-secondary institutions in 2006.

"CareerSearch provides critical information on employment, salary and satisfaction of graduates by program and institution and these latest findings are very encouraging," said Minister King. "Knowing these labour market outcomes allows students to make informed choices regarding their post-secondary studies. CareerSearch also helps our institutions in planning their program offerings."

Data collected for CareerSearch 2008 identifies several areas of improvement over the previous survey period. Overall, for example, graduates of 2006 are experiencing increased full-time employment, an increase in earnings and higher levels of full-time employment directly related to their training compared to graduates of 2002.

A CareerSearch 2008 shows that graduates are finding employment and the majority of these graduates are doing so within the province which is great news," said Minister King. "Approximately 87 per cent of graduates from most programs found their first full-time job prior to or within three months of graduating, which is higher than the 83 per cent in 2004. Clearly, our investments in post-secondary education are translating into graduates who have the skills and knowledge the labour market is after."

CareerSearch will be distributed to all high schools, post-secondary institutions and those involved in providing career counseling in the province. In addition, the report is available online at www.gov.nl.ca/edu. 

Data contained in the report is based on the results of a telephone survey of graduates of 2006 approximately 18 months following their graduation. Just over 7,800 students graduated in 2006 and approximately 45 per cent responded to the survey.

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

 

BACKGROUNDER
CareerSearch 2008: Employment Experience and Earnings of 2006 Graduates

Overview
 CareerSearch 2008 is the Department of Education's recent report of labour market outcomes and experiences of graduates following post-secondary study in Newfoundland and Labrador. The report contains the results of a survey of graduates of 2006. The survey was conducted between May and September 2008 with a response rate of 45 per cent.

The purpose of the survey is to provide prospective students, policy makers, career counsellors and administrators with information on graduate outcomes of post-secondary programs.

This report contains actual graduate employment experiences following graduation and graduate satisfaction levels with their choice of program. The information is reported for each program and institution allowing users to assess employment, earnings, and satisfaction with individual programs at Memorial University (including the Marine Institute), the Centre for Nursing Studies, the Western Regional School of Nursing, College of the North Atlantic and private colleges.

CareerSearch 2008 consists of two volumes: one for Memorial University (including the Marine Institute), the Centre for Nursing Studies and Western Regional School of Nursing; and one for College of the North Atlantic and private colleges.

These publications are available on the department's website and will be sent to high schools, post-secondary institutions, and career counsellors.

Key Findings
 Labour market outcomes for graduates of 2006 from Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary institutions have improved when compared to graduates of 2002, with key findings as follows:

  • Employment Rates: Graduates of 2006 are experiencing higher full-time employment when compared to graduates of 2002; 76 per cent were employed full-time in 2006 compared to 71 per cent in 2002.
  • Wages: Graduates of 2006 are experiencing higher wages when compared to graduates of 2002; 82 per cent were earning high wages compared to 74 per cent earning high wages in 2002.
  • Relatedness of Job to Training: Graduates of 2006 are experiencing higher full-time employment directly related to their training when compared to graduates of 2002; 71 per cent of 2006 graduates have jobs directly related to their training compared to 64 per cent of 2002 graduates.
  • Migration Patterns: Graduates of 2006 are experiencing slightly higher out-migration when compared to graduates of 2002; 78 per cent of 2006 graduates remained in the province compared to 83 per cent of 2002 graduates.
  • Time to Find Full-time Job: Graduates of 2006 are finding full-time jobs faster when compared to graduates of 2002; 87 per cent of graduates found full-time jobs prior to or within three months of graduation compared to 83 per cent of 2002 graduates.
  • Student Aid Usage: Graduates of 2006 are using the student aid program less than graduates of 2002; 35 per cent of 2006 graduates accessed government student aid as compared to 45 per cent of 2002 graduates.

    • 2009 06 15                                              12:05 p.m.
     

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