Allison White and Jacqueline Irwin, students in NSCC’s broadcast diploma program, are encouraged by the college’s high graduate employment rate. Photo: Sarah King

Questioning NSCC's promise of work

The Nova Scotia Community College proudly advertises its ability to get students in the workforce, but finding a steady job may not be as easy as it sounds.

According to the college's 2008 graduate survey, it boasts an impressive 92-per-cent employment rate for graduates.

Anna Burke, manager of institution research and analyst at the college, says the statistic is a testament to the school's commitment to finding and filling positions in the labour market.

Programs in the health and trades, such as practical nursing, pharmacy technology and carpentry, do the best.

"High employment outcomes are probably evidence of the skills shortages that exist in those particular fields," says Burke.

The Nova Scotia government says about 4,000 skilled tradespeople are needed in the province.

Tara Lyle, a first-year student in the dental assisting program, says she's "really happy" about the college's high employment rate.

She feels that, in her area of study, the survey paints an accurate picture.

"You have to go on a co-op, and shadow at a couple different dental offices," she said. "They usually end up hiring you."

But graduate Shannon MacIntyre says that there's another side to the story.

MacIntyre completed the radio and television arts diploma and is working on her graduate studies in public relations.

While the programs offer hands-on training and work experience, she thinks there are simply not enough job opportunities in the province for everyone.

"I think that the survey's accurate," she said. "But what they don't tell you is a lot of the grads are employed, but not necessarily in a full-time position."

Burke says while the survey does not include questions about job permanence, the college is looking into a three-year graduate follow-up that would consider how many graduates are working with the same employer.

MacIntyre has been working part-time at CTV in Halifax for about a year. She says her training and work terms helped her get that job, but she knows plenty of people who haven't been so lucky.

"Realistically, all those jobs are disappearing," she said.

Burke does admit that the current economic downturn will affect the employment rate in the 2009 graduate survey, due later this fall.

She also said that a lot of employment success depends on where the students decide to live.

On top of that, only a certain percentage of the graduating class is surveyed. Of the 324 graduates of MacIntyre's study area in applied arts and new media in 2007, only 118 participated in the survey. Of those 98 per cent were employed, but more than half the class is unaccounted for.

MacIntyre says the 92-per-cent statistic acts as a draw to incoming students.

Lyle says that while the statistic itself didn't necessarily influence her decision to go to the college, the promise of work did.

Despite skepticism about local opportunities, MacIntyre feels secure in her program choice at the community college. The work terms and occasional successes keep her positive.

"That's kind of the mindset you need when you're looking for a job."

Comments on this story are now closed