Workforce Preparation and Employment Outcomes
Employment Outcomes: Florida
What Is Measured?
Percent of Florida Community College students who were employed in the state of Florida during their first year after graduation
Who Is Counted?
Students who graduated from an Associate of Science degree program in Florida Community Colleges from 2006-07 through 2010-11
What It Tells Us
Employment rates vary widely across different Associate of Science programs. Only about two-thirds (68 percent) of the graduates of Business administration programs are employed in the fall after they graduate, compared to about 90 percent of graduates of the Emergency Medicine Technology—Paramedic program who are employed.
Why It's Important
Labor force participation is consistently associated with higher levels of education, even among those who do not complete a degree or certificate. While a number of states report employment outcomes for students who have enrolled in a community college or completed a community college degree or certificate, the way in which these outcomes are reported and the populations on which outcome measures are based vary widely, making it difficult to compare these measures across states.
About the Data
Student-level education data came from the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program and were matched with unemployment insurance wage data reported to the Florida Department of Revenue on a quarterly basis. However, the data do not capture employment information for graduates employed outside the state of Florida, graduates who are federal employees, and graduates who are self-employed. In addition, graduates who earned a higher credential out of state are categorized in the cohort of graduates who earned their highest degree in Florida.
Program areas are reported by Classification of Instructional Programs code. The most popular program areas for the Associate of Science degree are included in this indicator.