Study in Canada: University Graduate Survey Shows Stark Differences in Salaries

Last Updated on January 24, 2019

The National Graduate Survey of 2010 by Statistics Canada shows that the vast majority of university graduates, who study in Canada, got employed with decent incomes three years after graduating. This is excellent news for international students who are considering a study visa or a related immigration experience in Canada.

It was no surprise when a new survey of 21,000 bachelor’s graduates from 41 universities, which was filled out 6-7 years after their 2006 and 2007 convocations, revealed that they had a 96% employment rate, mild variation in employment rates between disciplines, and a median income of $63,000.

It also reconfirmed the presence of a gender gap. The median incomes for women were reported to be $60,000, compared to $70,000 for men.

However the most striking aspect of the survey was the huge range in salaries based on degree. A report on the survey (from the Canadian University Baccalaureate Graduate Outcomes Project) shows that while most graduates find some work, those who undertake specific degree programs are much more likely to get high-paying jobs. The report includes a chart which shows earnings for the 25th to 75th percentile of students by degree type. According to the report, the humanities graduates get the lowest incomes ranging from $40,000 to $65,000. The highest salaries were taken by engineering graduates, who tended to earn between $65,000 and $100,000. Business graduates featured in between, earning from $55,000 to $90,000.

According to the survey, more than 10% of humanities and education graduates were employed part-time whereas almost all engineering and business graduates were in full-time employment. This implies “underemployment” for humanities and education graduates.

The survey also found that employment rates are similar irrespective of whether graduates are visible minorities, first-generation students (first in the family to attend college or university), living in certain regions or French speaking. However the survey reported that graduates with disabilities were less likely to be employed – only 90% of these graduates found employment compared to the overall figure of 96%.

The gender gap in earnings was also re-established – young women who are good at math in high school are half as likely as young men who are good in math to choose math-heavy STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science). This also re-emphasises the results above that STEM graduates often earn more than other graduates.

International students who may be considering a study in Canada or a related immigration experience in Canada are invited to contact us and receive free study in Canada assessment at no charge. We also provide free legal services to study in Canada, to qualified applicants.

Source: Macleans