Abstract
A college degree used to open doors for job, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged graduates. However, college graduates are experiencing increasing difficulties in the labor market and graduate employment has emerged as a hotly debated issue. This study employed a nationally representative sample from 140 colleges around Taiwan to compare early employment outcomes (job opportunity, salary, and job satisfaction) of graduates of diverse economic status and to examine related factors. The results revealed that graduate salary and job satisfaction corresponded to their economic status. Being female or technical institute graduate enhanced job opportunities, but hindered salaries for all graduates. Collegiate experiences enhanced job opportunities particularly for graduates of low economic status, and degree-level expertise enhanced salary and job satisfaction for all graduates. Based on the results, this study proposes institutional interventions specifically tailored for graduates of different economic status.
Highlights
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has warned that the youth employment crisis, slowly recovering, is far from over
The results showed that graduate salary and job satisfaction correspond to their economic status
The results did not show a correspondence between graduate job opportunity and economic status
Summary
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has warned that the youth employment crisis, slowly recovering, is far from over. 2017, Vol 5, No 1 among the unemployed; with 36.7% of the global unemployed were youth (ILO, 2014). The increasing difficulties encountered by college graduates in the labor market have attracted particular attention (Brown et al, 2004). In contrast to the notion that a college degree opens doors for better employment, statistics show that college graduates are less competitive than the less educated in the labor market. In Taiwan, a breakdown of the 2015 national unemployment rate revealed a significantly higher unemployment rate for college graduates than for the less educated (Directorate General of Budget of Taiwan, 2015). Employment issues of college graduates have generated great concern and considerable debate for students, parents, educators, scholars, and numerous other parties
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