Author: Hagar Effah
When applying to postsecondary education, students and parents can find themselves grappling with the weighty decision of selecting the right program. We often assume that this important decision will open the door to a singular occupation that will determine the future of our entire career. However, the reality is that most careers are not linear, and the skills and knowledge gained from various academic disciplines can be applied to an array of occupations.
The interactive graph below illustrates the many ways in which college and university studies can lead to a range of career paths post-graduation. Based on the 2021 Canadian census, the data in this graph captures university and college graduates aged 25 to 64 who are actively employed in Ontario. By hovering over each field of study or occupation, you can explore the pathways from postsecondary education to the labour market. The bachelor’s degree tab includes people with a bachelor’s degree as their highest educational attainment, including those who received their bachelor’s degree from university or college. The college credential below degree level tab includes those with college credentials below the degree level as their highest educational attainment. The data excludes postgraduate degrees (e.g., masters, PhD) and professional degrees (e.g., medicine, dentistry).
The skills and knowledge gained from various academic disciplines can be applied to an array of occupations.
Some fields exhibit strong ties to their related occupational sectors — for example, 62% of those who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health disciplines are working in health-related occupations, and 77% of those with a bachelor’s degree in education are employed in the fields of education, law and social, community and government services. On the other hand, disciplines like visual arts, performing arts, communications, technologies and humanities show a more diverse distribution across various occupations.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree and graduates with a college credential below degree level are dispersed across multiple occupations within the labour market, irrespective of their field of study. While one’s field of study can serve as a potential pathway to certain occupations, it’s intriguing to note that graduates often secure employment in a wide array of fields. In a rapidly evolving labour market, it’s comforting to know that your field of study has the potential to open the door to a wide range of opportunities.