OECD says more jobs in engineering, IT but enrollment high in business, law

There are a higher number of jobs in engineering and information technology, but most popular college and university programmes are business, administration and law, says a new international report on education.

Md Asiuzzamanbdnews24.com
Published : 15 Sept 2017, 05:17 PM
Updated : 15 Sept 2017, 05:37 PM

The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD, following trends in the 35-plus other developed nations, has prepared the report.

The report covers all 35 OECD countries and a number of partner countries including Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

In Canada, about 29 percent of post-secondary students are taking business and law, and about 11 percent engineering, manufacturing and construction.

"While overall, university graduates still have much higher employment rates and earn more, engineering and information and computer technology sectors have the highest employment rates," the report says.

The report finds that business, administration and law are the most popular careers in countries surveyed, chosen by around one in four students.

"This compares to 16 percent in engineering, construction and manufacturing, and less than 5 percent of students study information and communication technologies, despite graduates in these subjects having the highest employment rate on average across OECD countries, exceeding 90 percent in about a third of them.”

“(Post-secondary) enrollment is expanding rapidly, with very strong returns for individuals and taxpayers, but new evidence shows that universities can fail to offer, and individuals fail to pursue, the fields of study that promise the greatest labour-market opportunities,” said the OECD in a written release.

Deb Matthews, Ontario’s minister of advanced education and skills development, told local media that the OECD report is further evidence that college and university “remains a worthwhile investment for students for their future.”

Meanwhile, the Ontario government has introduced new student aid programme that provides students from lower-income homes with free tuition — they receive more in non-repayable grants than they have to pay in fees.

“Post-secondary education and training is a key pillar of Ontario’s economic strategy; seven out of every 10 new jobs created in Ontario are expected to require post-secondary education or training,” Deb Matthews said in a written statement, according to media reports.

“However, we know there is more to be done to prepare students with the skills they need for a changing economy, and that work must be done in collaboration with post-secondary institutions.

"We are working together with colleges and universities … to set the foundation for broader post-secondary education system transformation, including in areas like experiential learning, teaching quality and economic development,” she was quoted as saying.

Another report released on Tuesday by the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity said, "Ontario workers need to be better equipped to face the changing job market."

 It also said that students should not only learn “broader skill sets,” but for post-secondary institutions should make sure they get input from employers to help shape programming.

Meanwhile, according to Toronto Star, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has warned that Ontarians are worried about their outdated job skills, saying "what workers are trained for doesn’t necessarily match what employers are looking for".