Job permanence

Most of those employed in May 1988 had obtained permanent employment. Based on this measure, the expected relation between education and employment was not sustained. Those with doctorates were the least likely to have permanent jobs (68%), followed by those with bachelor's (76%) and master's degrees (81%); college and trade or vocational school graduates were the most likely to have a permanent job (84%). This finding may be a result of the particular job market for graduates with PhDs, which may be characterized by short-term contracts in teaching or research.

Earnings

The two key variables -- level of education and field of study -- were also important in estimating annual median earnings for graduates holding full-time jobs. In 1988, median earnings ranged from a low of $19,000 for trade or vocational school graduates to a high of $39,000 for those holding a doctorate. In general, however, those in the more applied fields had higher earnings. Among trade or vocational school graduates those in engineering, applied sciences, mathematics, and computer science earned most (median $21,000), and those in the arts earned least ($13,000). At the college level, graduates in the health sciences had the highest median earnings ($27,000) and those in humanities the lowest ($17,000). University graduates in the health professions ($32,000), engineering and applied sciences ($30,000), and mathematics and physical sciences ($30,000) had the highest incomes. The lowest incomes at this level of education were reported by graduates in the fine and applied arts ($24,000).

Relation of job to education

Graduates were asked to estimate the extent to which the job they held in May 1988 matched their education. At all education levels, a large majority reported a good match. However, the highest proportion of those reporting no relation was graduates of trade or vocational schools (22%). People with bachelor's degrees (16%) and college graduates (13%) were similar. Graduates with master's degrees (7%) or doctorates (4%) were the least likely to be in jobs unrelated to their programs.

Education requirements of the job

A comparison between the education requirements of the job and the credentials of the graduate revealed that, in May 1988, about half of the trade or vocational school graduates, 41% of those with a college diploma, 36% with bachelor's, 62% with master's, and 12% with doctoral degrees reported job entry requirements below their level of education. Such findings may indicate the degree to which there is a mismatch between the skills of new graduates and the demands of the labour market.