Survey of Graduates of Post-secondary Programs

Detailed information for 1978 (class of 1976)

The Survey of Graduates of Post-secondary Programs will give educational planners information on the employment experience of graduates.

Data release - April 1, 1989

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The Survey of Graduates of Post-secondary Programs was designed to determine the employment experience of graduates and provide information on rates of unemployment, under-employment, career expectations, and the relationship between post-secondary education and occupational experience.

Subjects

• Education, training and learning
• Employment and unemployment
• Fields of study
• Labour
• Outcomes of education

Data sources and methodology

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

Using telephone tracing procedures some 45,000 of the 100,000 eligible 1976 graduates from Canada's post-secondary institutions were surveyed. Lists of graduates were obtained from the institutions and the graduates were followed up and interviewed by phone.

Estimation

Weighting procedures were developed so as to produce representative estimates of graduates by province and type of degree.

Quality evaluation

The survey proved highly successful with a response rate approaching 75%. Data reliability indicators were developed and used in interpreting the results.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. The confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act override the provisions of any other Act, including the Access to Information Act, to guarantee the confidentiality of reported data of individual respondents. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Data accuracy

The survey proved highly successful with a response rate approaching 75%. Data reliability indicators were developed and used in interpreting the results.