2021-22 Ontario University Graduate Survey
About the Survey
Each year the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, in cooperation with Ontario’s universities, administers the Ontario University Graduate Survey. The survey is administered to all graduates two years after graduation, and asks for information on their employment outcomes at six months and two years after graduation. The information is used to support policy development and analysis, and to ensure Ontario’s graduates are obtaining good, high quality jobs.
2021-22 Ontario University Graduate Survey respondents graduated in 2019. Respondents were surveyed between January 2022 and August 2022, and asked about their employment status at 6 months after graduation and two years after graduation. A graduate could respond online or by e-mail, mobile device, or paper.
To increase accountability and transparency, the Ministryf of Colleges and Universities has provided the response counts for each question of the survey, as well as contextual information to help better understand calculations.
Graduate Responses
Of the 86, 686 graduates, 78, 839 were surveyed and 25, 524 responded resulting in a 32% response rate.
Of the total survey respondents , 98% of survey responses were in English, while 2% were in French.
How to Interpret Survey Results
The data in this document is for summary purposes only. It cannot be used to calculate the graduate employment rate or to conduct research. The following information will also help users accurately interpret the survey results provided at the end of this summary.
In surveys, a partial non-response error can occur, when individuals respond to the survey but do not respond to a specific question. For instance, while it may be logical to assume that all respondents who indicated they were employed or offered employment would also indicate the number of hours they work in a week, not all respondents do.
Tables in orange include responses by graduates who were not in the labour force. Tables in blue only include graduates who were in the labour force.
Graduate Employment Rate Calculation
The ministry calculates the graduate employment rate as the proportion of graduates in the labour force who responded as being employed or offered employment. The labour force is defined as those who are employed, offered employment, and looking for work but not in school. Respondents that indicate they are not employed in Question 1/15, looking for work in Question 9/25, and not in school in Question 10/26, are included in the labour force and classified as looking.
2021-22 Ontario University Graduate Survey: Results for 2019 Graduates
2019 Graduate Employment Rate
| Period |
Complete Surveys |
Employed/ Self-Employed |
Offered |
Looking |
Employed/ Offered a Job |
Individuals in Labour Force |
Employment Rate |
| n |
n |
n |
n |
n |
n |
% |
| 6 Months |
25,524 |
18, 635 |
738 |
2,776 |
19,373 |
21,434 |
90.4% |
| 2 years |
25, 524 |
20, 114 |
625 |
1,762 |
20, 739 |
21, 999 |
94.3% |
6 Months/2 Years Comparison Overall
| 1/15. |
Best applies to your situation: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Not employed [Skip to Q9/Q25] |
6,135 |
24% |
4,769 |
19% |
| Offered employment |
738 |
3% |
625 |
2% |
| Employed in a Paid Job (PT/FT) |
18,058 |
71% |
19,408 |
76% |
| Self-employed |
577 |
2% |
706 |
3% |
| Total responses |
25,508 |
25,508 |
This information cannot be used to calculate the graduate employment rate because it includes responses from graduates who were not looking for work (because they were in school or otherwise not in the labour market). See the above panel for the correct graduate employment rate.
Section A - Paid Employment
More than one paid job
| 2/16. |
More than one paid job: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Yes |
4,965 |
26% |
4,198 |
20% |
| No |
14,403 |
74% |
16,535 |
80% |
| Total responses |
19,368 |
20,733 |
This question identifies whether graduates who identified in 1/15 that they were in paid employment had more than one paid job. This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
Was your employment for 30 hours a week or more?
| 3/17. |
Was your employment for 30 hours a week or more? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Yes |
15,946 |
82% |
17,777 |
86% |
| No |
3,411 |
18% |
2,945 |
14% |
| Total responses |
19,357 |
20,722 |
The survey uses Statistics Canada’s definition of full-time employment, which requires an individual to be employed for 30 hours a week or more to be considered employed full time.
Reason for working less than 30 hours a week:
| 4/18. |
Reason for working less than 30 hours a week: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Going to school |
1,268 |
37% |
1,462 |
50% |
| Illness or disability |
44 |
1% |
51 |
2% |
| Personal or family responsibilities |
99 |
3% |
101 |
3% |
| Unable to find full-time work/ only job found/ insufficient business |
1,346 |
40% |
812 |
28% |
| Travelling |
53 |
2% |
23 |
1% |
| Unpaid internship |
35 |
1% |
27 |
1% |
| Personal preference |
324 |
10% |
239 |
8% |
| Other |
231 |
7% |
216 |
7% |
| Total responses |
3,400 |
2,931 |
Respondents who identified in 3/17 that they were working for 30 hours a week or less were asked to provide a reason for why they were working part-time. This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
Personal annual salary before taxes and other deductions:
| 5/19. |
Personal annual salary before taxes and other deductions: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| $0 - $5,000 |
611 |
3% |
718 |
4% |
| $6,001 - $10,000 |
758 |
4% |
651 |
3% |
| $11,000 - $15,000 |
913 |
5% |
633 |
3% |
| $16,000 - $20,000 |
1,065 |
6% |
656 |
3% |
| $21,000 - $25,000 |
1,173 |
6% |
801 |
4% |
| $26,000 - $30,000 |
1,251 |
7% |
842 |
4% |
| $31,000 - $35,000 |
1,328 |
7% |
919 |
4% |
| $36,000 - $40,000 |
1,599 |
8% |
1,118 |
5% |
| $41,000 - $45,000 |
1,642 |
9% |
1,498 |
7% |
| $46,000 - $50,000 |
1,513 |
8% |
1,472 |
7% |
| $51,000 - $55,000 |
1,379 |
7% |
1,515 |
7% |
| $56,000- $60,000 |
1,362 |
7% |
1,580 |
8% |
| $61,000- $65,000 |
1,219 |
6% |
1,614 |
8% |
| $66,000- $70,000 |
864 |
5% |
1,391 |
7% |
| $71,000- $75,000 |
632 |
3% |
1,206 |
6% |
| $76,000- $80,000 |
428 |
2% |
822 |
4% |
| $81,000- $85,000 |
330 |
2% |
668 |
3% |
| $86,000- $90,000 |
238 |
1% |
454 |
2% |
| $91,000- $95,000 |
142 |
1% |
344 |
2% |
| $96,000- $100,000 |
140 |
1% |
309 |
2% |
| $101,000- $105,000 |
93 |
0% |
207 |
1% |
| $106,000- $110,000 |
75 |
0% |
179 |
1% |
| $111,000- $115,000 |
38 |
0% |
101 |
1% |
| $116,000- $120,000 |
45 |
0% |
85 |
0% |
| $121,000- $125,000 |
20 |
0% |
73 |
0% |
| $126,000- $130,000 |
27 |
0% |
49 |
0% |
| $131,000- $135,000 |
21 |
0% |
31 |
0% |
| $136,000- $140,000 |
18 |
0% |
59 |
0% |
| $141,000- $145,000 |
11 |
0% |
29 |
0% |
| $146,000- $150,000 |
17 |
0% |
52 |
0% |
| More than $150,000 |
188 |
1% |
354 |
2% |
| Total responses |
19,104 |
20,430 |
Graduates who identified in 1/15 that they had been offered employment, were employed full time or part time in a paid job, or were self-employed, were asked what their personal annual salary from all employment was before taxes and other deductions (in Canadian dollars). This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
What type of employment did you have at that time?
| 20 |
What type of employment did you have at that time? |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
| Permanent |
14,147 |
68% |
| Temporary/Contract |
6,193 |
30% |
| Seasonal |
386 |
2% |
| Total responses |
20,726 |
For questions 6-8/20-23, graduates were asked to answer with respect to the paid job that they considered their primary or main job (at six months for Q 6-8 and 2 years for Q 20-23). Any respondent who indicated that they were employed was asked to respond to these questions, including those in part-time employment who were attending school.
This question (Q20) was only asked of graduates at the two-year mark.
Level of education needed for work:
| 6/21. |
Level of education needed for work: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| High school or less |
2,887 |
15% |
1,929 |
9% |
| Postsecondary certificate or diploma |
1,798 |
9% |
1,807 |
9% |
| Bachelor’s degree |
10,139 |
52% |
11,232 |
54% |
| Professional degree |
2,049 |
11% |
2,535 |
12% |
| Post-graduate certificate or diploma |
465 |
2% |
624 |
3% |
| Graduate degree |
813 |
4% |
1,363 |
7% |
| No qualifications were specified |
1,098 |
6% |
1,091 |
5% |
| Other |
110 |
1% |
139 |
1% |
| Total responses |
19,359 |
20,720 |
Graduates were asked what level of education was required for the position that they were working in. This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
How closely was your work related to the skills you developed at university?
| 7/22. |
How closely was your work related to the skills you developed at university? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Closely related |
9,218 |
48% |
11,290 |
54% |
| Somewhat related |
6,794 |
35% |
6,840 |
33% |
| Not related at all |
3,295 |
17% |
2,519 |
12% |
| Do not know |
60 |
0% |
78 |
0% |
| Total responses |
19,367 |
20,727 |
The ministry splits relatedness into two categories to better reflect a graduate’s outcome. A graduate may now indicate their job’s relatedness to the skills developed at university and the relatedness to the subject matter of their program of study.
These tables provide the breakdown of answers of those who responded to these questions
How closely was your work related to the subject matter of the program of study?
| 8/23. |
How closely was your work related to the subject matter of the program of study? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Closely related |
8,775 |
45% |
10,039 |
48% |
| Somewhat related |
5,448 |
28% |
6,109 |
29% |
| Not related at all |
5,095 |
26% |
4,502 |
22% |
| Do not know |
51 |
0% |
75 |
0% |
| Total responses |
19,369 |
20,725 |
Section B - Not Employed
Were you looking for work?
| 9/25. |
Were you looking for work? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Yes |
2,776 |
45% |
1,762 |
37% |
| No |
3,356 |
55% |
3,003 |
63% |
| Total responses |
6,132 |
4,765 |
If a respondent indicated they were looking for work and they were not in school, they are included in the labour force. Otherwise, if a graduate was not looking for work, they were not included in the graduate employment rate.
Main reason you were not looking for work:
| 10/26. |
Main reason you were not looking for work: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Going to school |
2,870 |
86% |
2,591 |
87% |
| Personal or family responsibilities |
165 |
5% |
170 |
6% |
| Discouraged with looking for employment |
51 |
2% |
51 |
2% |
| Other |
243 |
7% |
176 |
6% |
| Total responses |
3,329 |
2,988 |
Respondents who identified in 9/25 that they were not looking for work were asked to provide a reason why. This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
Section C - Additional Schooling
Were you attending school?
| 11/27 |
Were you attending school? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Yes - Going to school full-time |
6,843 |
27% |
5,702 |
22% |
| Yes - Going to school part-time |
1,198 |
5% |
1,286 |
5% |
| Not in school |
17,442 |
68% |
18,489 |
73% |
| Total responses |
25,483 |
25,477 |
Program enrolled:
| 12/28. |
Program enrolled: |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Postsecondary certificate or diploma |
734 |
9% |
687 |
10% |
| Bachelor’s degree |
955 |
12% |
554 |
8% |
| Professional degree |
1,667 |
21% |
1,723 |
25% |
| Post-graduate certificate or diploma |
854 |
11% |
642 |
9% |
| Graduate degree |
3,451 |
43% |
3,112 |
45% |
| Other |
357 |
4% |
259 |
4% |
| Total responses |
8,018 |
6,977 |
Respondents who identified in 11/27 that they were attending school either part time or full time were asked to identify what type of program they were enrolled in. This table provides the breakdown of answers of those who responded to this question.
At what kind of postsecondary institution were you enrolled?
| 13/29. |
At what kind of postsecondary institution were you enrolled? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| College in Ontario |
1,217 |
15% |
1,044 |
15% |
| University in Ontario |
5,515 |
69% |
4,339 |
62% |
| Other postsecondary institution in Ontario |
242 |
3% |
254 |
4% |
| Postsecondary institution outside of Ontario |
1,043 |
13% |
1,334 |
19% |
| Total responses |
8,017 |
6,971 |
Respondents who identified in 11/27 that they were attending school either part time or full time were asked to identify what kind of postsecondary institution they were enrolled in. This table provides the breakdown of answers for those who responded to this question.
In addition to the activities outlined above, were you in an unpaid internship or similar type of unpaid position (Six months/2 years) after graduation?
| 14/30. |
In addition to the activities outlined above, were you in an unpaid internship or similar type of unpaid position (Six months/2 years) after graduation? |
6 Months |
2 Years |
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Yes |
1,050 |
4% |
628 |
2% |
| No |
24,425 |
96% |
24,813 |
98% |
| Total responses |
25,475 |
25,441 |
It was important for Ontario and its universities to understand the incidence of unpaid internships and other types of unpaid positions.
In the period between graduation in 2017 and October 2019, did you complete another postsecondary education credential?
| 36. |
In the period between graduation in 2017 and October 2019, did you complete another postsecondary education credential? |
n |
% |
| Yes |
6,198 |
24% |
| No |
19,312 |
76% |
| Total responses |
25,510 |
What credential did you complete during that period?
| 37 |
What credential did you complete during that period? |
n |
% |
| Postsecondary certificate or diploma |
841 |
14% |
| Bachelor’s degree |
411 |
7% |
| Professional degree |
776 |
13% |
| Post-graduate certificate or diploma |
1,261 |
20% |
| Graduate degree |
2,454 |
40% |
| Other |
434 |
7% |
| Total responses |
6,177 |
Respondents who identified they had completed another credential were asked what type of credential they completed. This table provides the breakdown of answers for those who responded to this question.
The Ontario government is interested in the outcomes of underrepresented groups in the labour market. The questions below, were added to understand the outcomes of first-generation students, students with disabilities, and Aboriginal Students.
Have any of your parents/guardians ever completed a credential at a university or college?
| 38 |
Have any of your parents/guardians ever completed a credential at a university or college? |
n |
% |
| Yes |
18,293 |
72% |
| No |
6,339 |
25% |
| Unsure |
660 |
3% |
| Total responses |
25,292 |
Do you consider yourself to have a physical, mental health or learning disability?
| 34 |
Do you consider yourself to have a physical, mental health or learning disability? |
n |
% |
| Yes |
3,814 |
15% |
| No |
19,919 |
79% |
| Prefer not to respond |
1,592 |
6% |
| Total responses |
25,325 |
Do you want to self-identify as an Aboriginal Person? (An Aboriginal person is considered a person related to, or descended from, the Original peoples of Canada).
| 35a |
Do you want to self-identify as an Aboriginal Person? (An Aboriginal person is considered a person related to, or descended from, the Original peoples of Canada). |
n |
% |
| Yes |
491 |
2% |
| No |
24,762 |
98% |
| Total responses |
25,253 |
Select the description(s) that you self-identify with:
| 35b |
Select the description(s) that you self-identify with: |
n |
% |
| First Nations (Status/Non-Status Indian) |
241 |
52% |
| Métis |
176 |
38% |
| Inuk (Inuit) |
12 |
3% |
| I use an alternative term to describe my Aboriginal ancestry and/or identity (e.g. Anishinaabe, Treaty #3). |
68 |
15% |
| Total responses |
497 |
