Holland College graduates are finding work in their field of study, according to a recent survey conducted by the college’s Office of Institutional Research.

The annual graduate survey looks at the employment and satisfaction rates of students one year after graduation. This year, the Class of 2021 graduates provided information on their participation in the labour market, the relevance of their training to their employment, and their overall satisfaction with the college and the training they received. 

Respondents from the Class of 2021 had greater success finding employment directly related to their training than graduates in previous years. Seventy-three percent were employed in jobs directly related to their program of study, an increase of eight percent over the Class of 2020, and 13 percent were employed in jobs indirectly related to their program of study, down 6.8 percent from the previous year.

Almost one third of the surveyed graduates were employed immediately upon graduation, a slightly higher percentage than last year. The employment rate increased significantly within one month of graduating, when 81 percent were employed. One year from graduation, 92.4 percent of the respondents were employed.

Respondents gave the college very high satisfaction ratings. Ninety-five percent would recommend the program from which they graduated.

The survey also provided information about how many graduates are staying in Prince Edward Island. The graduates of 2021 survey showed that 72 percent of the respondents were employed on the Island.

Holland College President, Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, said the college is pleased with the results.

“Given the economic and labour market challenges during the global pandemic, Holland College is extremely happy to see so many of our graduates working so quickly after graduation,” he said.