Ontario university graduates are getting jobs: 93 per cent in well-paying jobs two years after graduation, government survey shows

TORONTO, Sept. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - The vast majority of graduates of Ontario's undergraduate university programs are getting well-paying jobs in their fields soon after graduation, the latest government survey shows.

More than 93 per cent of 2011 undergrads had jobs two years after graduation, up from 87.4 per cent who were employed within six months of leaving school, the data shows.

The survey concludes these were good, well-paying jobs. The average salary for university graduates in full-time employment was $49,398 two years after graduation, up from the average $42,636 earned six months after graduation.

"University graduates are succeeding in the workplace more than graduates with any other level of education because they have the versatile skills employers are looking for," says Max Blouw, Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), and President of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Employment rates for university graduates are up from the last time the survey was conducted in 2012-13, suggesting a university education leads to good jobs even in the aftermath of a global economic recession, Blouw says.

The survey, conducted for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities by the independent research firm CCI Research Inc., also concludes that university graduates get jobs related to their education.

Two years after graduation, 88.6 per cent of graduates working full-time considered their work closely or somewhat related to the skills developed at university. Also after two years, graduates considered their work closely or somewhat related to the subject matter of their program of study.

"A university education is the best path to a successful career and well-paying job," says Bonnie M. Patterson, COU President and CEO.

"It's well worth the investment, and graduates can rest assured they will leave university with the skills they need to move from career to career as the job market changes."

In all, 72,429 students who graduated from undergraduate programs at Ontario universities in 2011 were surveyed between November 2013 and March 2014, with 25,119 or 34.7 per cent responding.

Read the survey.

See the infographic.

COU is a membership organization of 21 publicly assisted universities in Ontario. It works closely with the provincial and federal governments to shape public policies that help universities deliver high-quality programs for students and advance the research and innovation that improves the social, cultural and economic well-being of Ontarians.

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SOURCE: Council of Ontario Universities

Wendy McCann, Director, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Telephone: [phone] x233, Cell phone: [phone], Email [email protected]