Queen's grads thrive in job market, surveys show

Queen's grads thrive in job market, surveys show

May 28, 2015

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Queen’s University graduates stack up favourably in the job market, according to surveys that track the employment outcomes of university graduates.

The 2013 Ontario University Graduate Survey (OUGS), conducted for Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, shows that 92 per cent of graduates from Queen’s undergraduate programs are employed six months after graduation. That number compares to an average of 87 per cent for Ontario’s universities.

In addition, the National Baccalaureate Graduate Outcomes Survey (NBGOS) found that Queen’s graduates are more likely to participate in further post-secondary education after their undergraduate degree, with 67 per cent participating in additional studies, compared to an average of 50 per cent nationally. This includes further studies at either a university or college.

“Queen’s is very proud of the success of its graduates as they move on to careers, or further education,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The university is committed to delivering a transformative learning experience, including innovative experiential learning opportunities, as well as important career services that help students succeed in the job market.”

The OUGS also found that two years after graduation, the employment rate for graduates of Queen’s undergraduate programs increases to 93 per cent. According to data from the NBGOS, five years after graduation that number increases further to 97 per cent.

"Queen’s is very proud of the success of its graduates as they move on to careers, or further education.”

-  Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor

In addition to performing well in employment rates, Queen’s graduates also earn incomes that outpace the national average for university graduates. According to the NBGOS, which is not adjusted for program mix, the median annual employment income of Queen’s graduates five years after graduation is $70,000, compared to a national average of $63,000.

“We know that employers regard a Queen’s degree very highly and that our graduates are well equipped for success in the job market,” says Cathy Keates, Director of Career Services at Queen’s. “The university continues to support the employability of our graduates through a range of services, programs and experiential learning opportunities, including the new internship option for students in the Faculty of Arts and Science.”

Participation in the is now available to students studying in any discipline in an arts or science honours degree within the Faculty of Arts and Science, and provides a 12- or 16-month paid experiential learning opportunity. It is an extension of the Queen’s University Internship Program, which has been available to students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Computing.