Contrary to what anecdotal reports may have students believing, a university education in Ontario still has significantly higher payoff s than other types of education and training.
The Council of Ontario Universities has released their University Works report, which suggests Ontario university graduates experience more success in the job markets when compared to other students, such as those with a college diploma or education in the trades.
The report also says university graduates coming out of Ontario will earn more, and find work in their respective field more often.
“We know employment growth was about 50 per cent for the 15 plus age group for those graduating with bachelors, masters, and PhDs,” says Cecilia Brain, an economist and a senior policy analyst with COU.
While the report doesn’t specify which areas of study students find the most success in, it does find prospective students are increasingly choosing university degrees over other forms of post-secondary education.
“High school students should not make a decision about their post-secondary education based only on this data,” says Brain.
She adds prospective students need to consider what they want to do with their lives, what they will excel at, and consider which field of work will make them happy.
Students must weigh these elements against available employment possibilities within each program, and make a final decision, says Brain.
“There are significantly more university graduates now than there were 10 years ago, and the market has absorbed them well,” she adds.
Brain also expects that as Ontario recuperates from the recession, the number of available jobs will increase, translating into to more choices for graduates, and better pay.
“Universities have always trained versatile students who can apply learned skills to various types of jobs,” she says. “I think this is why university students continue to be in demand, even when there is a recession.”
Michael Burton
Executive Editor (Online)
