The Employment Patterns and Career Patterns of Graduates of Selected Community College Career Programs.

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to gather and analyze multi-institutional data on the career patterns and employment patterns of graduates of selected community college career programs. Five seminal questions were the basis for the data analysis: (1) What were the graduates' employment patterns immediately after graduation? (2) What are their present employment patterns? (3) What are their perceptions of the impact of the community college upon their careers? (4) What are their present educational patterns? (5) Do they feel that the community college is an appropriate educational component for the career they have chosen? Design and Method of Research. From data supplied by the three community colleges in the study, 1,045 questionnaires were mailed to graduates for the years 1976 and 1977 from the following career programs: Accounting, Animal Technology, Automotive Technology, Architectural Technology, Aviation Mechanics, Business Studies Technology, Child Care Technology, Community Health Worker, Computer Science/Data Processing, Dental Laboratory Technology, Dietetics/Hospitality Technology, Drafting Technology, Interior Design, Electrical/Electronics Technology, Hospital Management, Law Enforcement Administration, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Mental Health Worker, Metallurgical Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Real Estate, Respiratory Therapy Technology, Supervision and Management, Urban Technology, and Welding Technology. The chi-square statistic and the contingency coefficient statistic were used to analyze the graduates' responses by sex, race, age, career program, and institution. Findings. A majority of respondents were employed; Blacks had the highest unemployment rate. Although most of the respondents held employment that did not require college credentials, they reported that their college career program curricula had been beneficial to their employment. Blacks and respondents over age twenty-six years tended to remain with the same employer after graduation. Most respondents were satisfied with their employment and held positions that were related to their community college career program curriculum. Architectural Technology respondents tended to hold positions unrelated to their career program curriculum. Blacks had the highest percentage of employment dissatisfaction. Women and Blacks tended to earn less than men and Whites. Only a few Blacks and women were graduates of career programs that are traditionally associated with high paying occupations. Most of the respondents were not continuing their college education. The exceptions to this finding were Blacks and respondents in three career programs (Architectural Technology, Metallurgical Technology, and Law Enforcement Administration). Finally, most respondents, except Architectural Technology respondents, felt that the community college was an appropriate educational component for their career choice.