Research finds 84 per cent of college graduates secure employment within six months

TORONTO, April 20, 2016 /CNW/ - College education continues to provide an effective pathway to the workforce as results show about 84 per cent of Ontario's most recent graduates found employment within six months of graduation.

"Colleges build the talent and skills of students to help them pursue rewarding careers," said Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. "This strengthens the economy and builds Ontario's international reputation."

The graduate employment rate is one of the annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Ontario's colleges that were released today.

Other results released today show that employers continue to be satisfied with the graduates they hired and that satisfaction rates among students and graduates remain strong.

More than 91 per cent of employers were either satisfied or very satisfied with the graduates they hired. As well, about 80 per cent of college graduates were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their education. And about 77 per cent of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their education.

The provincial government and the colleges have been gathering the annual data on college results since 1998. The most recent KPIs were gathered by two independent research firms in the period from March 2015 to February 2016.

Ontario's colleges offer about 900 programs that prepare people for a wide range of careers in everything from IT, paramedicine, aviation, advertising and the skilled trades to game development, biotechnology, 3D manufacturing and much more.

Enrolment in Ontario's colleges is at an all-time high as growing numbers of students and parents value the career-specific programs at colleges. For example, the number of university graduates enrolled in college programs has increased more than 50 per cent over the past five years.

Ontario college programs continue to be closely aligned with changing labour-market demands in communities. Colleges work closely with business and industry leaders to ensure programs respond to shifts in local employers' needs.

"More than ever, students and parents are looking to higher education to open the door to good jobs," Franklin said. "The results confirm that college education continues to help increasing numbers of students prepare for long-term success."

The full KPI report is available here.

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SOURCE Colleges Ontario

Amy Dickson, Manager of Media Relations and Communications, Colleges Ontario, 647-258-7686, [email protected]