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Program of Study Q&A's |
 Does Job Futures cover all post-secondary programs in Canada?
Not entirely. The 155 major programs of study represent about 90% of all post-secondary school graduates. The remaining 10% include graduates of programs whose numbers are too small for analysis.
The 155 major programs of study found in Job Futures are classified under nine broad areas of study for ease of reference.
What exactly is a "major" program of study?
The word major means that several study areas have been grouped together because they share similar characteristics. For example, although dentists can become specialists such as pediatric dentists and oral surgeons, their major program of study is dentistry.
Where does the information on the programs of study come from?
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Economists analyze data about graduates from different programs of study at trade/vocational schools, community colleges/CEGEPS, and universities.
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By examining these data as well as consulting with businesses, unions, and other employment organizations, the economists describe the work experiences of graduates from a particular program of study and determine the current work prospects for graduates.
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The economists then use their expertise in analyzing employment trends and economic forecasting to predict work prospects five years into the future for graduates from the program of study. When doing this, they also take into account the labour market conditions of occupations that are likely to be in the job search of future graduates. |
Does the information about a program of study apply to all its graduates?
No, for three reasons:
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Graduates from some programs of study will have more diverse experiences than those in other programs. For example, undergraduate economics graduates may become economists, financial officers, investment dealers or business service professionals, while undergraduate engineering graduates generally work as engineers.
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The major programs of study don't include specialties. This means that graduates from a specialized area may experience different job opportunities and working conditions than graduates from other areas in the same program.
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Job Futures is an information system, based on national data. Provincial and local labour markets can vary. For example, graduates from the same program of study working in Prince Edward Island may have a different range of earnings than similar graduates working in British Columbia. |
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To find out more about regional differences, link to the Provincial or Local Perspectives. You'll find the links below the top navigation bar on each occupational groups Web page. |
What if I plan to have two majors when I go to a post-secondary institution?
There has been a trend among students to have double majors, such as economics and law. Such double majors tend to enhance graduates' employment opportunities. If your educational plans include a double major, it would be a good idea to look at graduates' experiences in both programs of study.
What can I learn about job-hunting from the experiences of past graduates?
Look in the Occupations of Graduates section to find out:
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The occupations and industries in which graduates have tended to look for and get work. This information can help you focus your job search |
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It's important to remember that getting a job also depends on the strength of the job market after graduation, an applicant's creativity in hunting for a job, and a person's individual preferences, interests, skills, and aptitudes. |
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What has happened to graduates between the second and fifth years in the work force. This information provides information about job turnover, job mobility, and advancement opportunities for people in your program. |
Look under Work Facts to find out:
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How many graduates found full-time employment. This information can help you determine how easy or hard it might be for you, as a new graduate, to find and keep a job. |
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A high proportion of graduates not working full time may indicate more opportunities for part-time work, or it may mean full-time employment is more difficult to find. |
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Find out the earnings for people in your program of study. This information can help you decide if this program will contribute to your desired lifestyle. |
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Full-time, full-year earnings do not include other forms of compensation such as retirement benefits, stock options or expense accounts. |
What should I study if I want to be my own boss?
The best way to figure this out is to go to Work Facts and look at the "In the Work Force" table. If graduates in a program of study have a high percentage of self-employment, this can have two meanings:
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The program of study leads to work opportunities in which self-employment is a good option.
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There is a high level of competition for new graduates in the occupations in which they look for work, with the result that many decide to establish their own business. |
What do the Work Prospects ratings of a program of study mean?
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Good means that new entrants have a relatively easy time finding permanent employment in targeted occupations with relatively high pay or attractive labour market conditions.
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Limited means that new entrants will have difficulty finding permanent work or that labour market conditions in the targeted occupations are not as attractive as in other occupations.
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Fair falls between "Good" and "Limited." It means jobs are more difficult to find; the probability of unemployment is higher; and wages and salaries are lower than in comparable major programs of study that are rated good. However, as compared to programs of study with conditions described as limited, a rating of fair means that these jobs are easier to find; unemployment is less likely; and wages and salaries are higher. |
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A limited rating does not mean that people should avoid these programs of study, but that their work search may be longer or more challenging than that of other graduates. |
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