Labour market participation of post-secondary graduates by field and level of study

Abstract

Post-secondary education plays a key role in shaping New Brunswick’s labour supply. The fields of study and levels of education students choose to pursue influence the occupations they enter and the earnings they receive after graduating, impacting how effectively they participate in the labour market. Using linked administrative data, this study examines how educational pathways relate to occupational outcomes and employment income for individuals who completed their highest post-secondary credential in New Brunswick between 2005 and 2016. Using data from the Postsecondary Student Information System linked with the 2016 Canadian Census, the analysis explores the distribution of graduates across fields of study, their predicted occupational outcomes, and the earnings premiums associated with different credentials.