New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) says its graduate employment rate has reached a five-year high.
That is according to the findings of an annual survey by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
The survey found 92 per cent of NBCC’s Class of 2021 were employed one year after graduation. For the Class of 2019, 96 per cent were employed three years after graduation.
Mary Butler, president and CEO of the college, credited their ability to deliver programs that are relevant to labour force needs.
“When graduates are able to leave our doors and go directly into the workplace and put those skills to work, it’s a demonstration of that quality,” Butler said in an interview.
The results also come as employers in New Brunswick and right across the country deal with a labour shortage.
Butler said many businesses are citing a lack of available labour as the biggest constraint to their growth.
“There’s certainly a high demand in the labour force, so having qualified graduates ready to meet those needs is certainly a benefit to both employers and those individuals,” she said.
The survey also found 84 per cent of grads were working in jobs related to their field of study, and 93 per cent were employed in New Brunswick.
In addition, the average weekly earnings of 2019 grads in full-time positions related to their field of study increased by one-third over 2020.
“We’re still focused on seeing more equity between men and women and in pay,” said Butler.
