University students enrolled in pharmacy, engineering, computer science, and nursing programs are most likely to find a high-paying job in their field of study after graduating, according to a recent study by Workopolis.com.
The website, which matches employers with current job-seekers, surveyed Canadians to measure just how valuable a university education is as an investment tool for future employment. Its study, released Aug. 6, showed that 60 per cent of Canadians feel education should be tied to the job market but over 75 per cent did not think their post-secondary training was relevant to their current line of work.
The website’s research reinforced the commonly held notion of today that in many fields, employers value on-the-job experience more than one’s degree qualifications.
“While Canadians are obtaining higher levels of education in 2014 than they were at the turn of the century, the vast majority of employers show more interest in a candidate’s skills and experience and where they’ve worked previously than in their education,” it stated.
The study suggested that nursing is the degree most likely to translate into a related job, with 97 per cent of students with a degree in the subject ended up with a job in the field. Pharmacy at 94 per cent, computer science at 91 per cent, engineering at 90 per cent, and human resources at 88 per cent rounded out the top five.
Four of these degrees also lead to some of the highest-paying average starting salaries, according to the study. Recent graduates with pharmacy degrees will make upwards of $85,000, while newly registered nurses can earn approximately $72,000 out of university, according to the study.
The average starting salaries for engineering and computer science graduates are $76,000 and $68,000, respectively. Other fields with top-paying starting earnings include law and math, with average salaries of $67,600 each.
Eric Therrien, a third-year computer science and math student at Carleton said he initially chose his major because he grew up using computers and taking programming courses in school.
“I just knew that it was for me,” Therrien said. “But I’m not going to lie. [The money] made the decision to major in comp sci much easier.”
“It was just an added bonus that I got to do what I love and make a living.”
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