OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014 - (Page 18)

ADVOCACY IN ACTION FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER: NEW OSPE REPORT EXAMINES UNDEREMPLOYMENT AMONG ONTARIO'S ENGINEERING GRADUATES By Andrea Ritter and Lee Weissling Each year, thousands of bright minds graduate with a bachelor's degree in engineering in Ontario. OSPE research reveals, however, that only about 30 per cent of these graduates go on to secure engineering employment - a figure far lower than that seen among graduates from other professional faculties or even engineering graduates in other provinces. 1 8 TheVoice Spring 2014 Troubled by these statistics, OSPE has undertaken further study to uncover data that paints a real and measurable picture of engineering employment and underemployment in Ontario. From Classroom to Career: A Snapshot of Employment and Underemployment among Ontario's Engineering Graduates, looks at career paths of those who have graduated with an engineering degree in Ontario to determine what types of jobs they are working in. From Classroom to Career draws upon data from the Canadian National Census 2011 National Household Survey (NHS). The report focuses on indicators that shed light on the disconnect between the reported employer experience - that there is a shortage of workers with the specialized skills they need - and the experience of those with engineering degrees who face serious challenges finding work in their field of study. From Classroom to Career concentrates mainly on engineering graduates (in all age groups) working in jobs that do not necessarily require a university degree at all. Although there is no universally agreed upon term for this state of affairs, OSPE has defined this as underemployment. According to the 2011 NHS (Statistics Canada 2011 NHS Table 99-012-X2011056), only 29.7 per cent of employed people in Ontario with a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering were working as an engineer or engineering manager. Another 37 per cent worked in professional positions that typically require a university degree. That means 33.3 per cent of all engineering graduates were working neither as an engineer nor in a position absolutely requiring a degree. OSPE considers this high percentage a strong indicator of significant underemployment within the profession.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014

OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014
Contents
Viewpoint
OSPE is Listening
Newsbytes
Profile: Robert A. Goodings, P.Eng.
National Engineering Month
Engineers Connect at OSPE Events
Advocacy for Our Profession
Issues that Matter
Decades of Advocacy
From Classroom to Career
Talking Transit
PAN Profile
Strength in Numbers
Learning from Elliot Lake
Energy Planning
Across the Pond and Back
Intellectual Property
OSPE Employer Compensation Survey
Deadlier than Drunk Drivers?
Resources within Reach
Professional Development
OSPE Launches Corporate Program

OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014