Workforce Preparation and Employment Outcomes
Employment Outcomes: Florida
What Is Measured?
Employment rates during the 2009 fourth quarter of the year following graduation
Who Is Counted?
2008-09 Florida College System Associate in Arts graduates
What It Tells Us
Six out of ten 2008-09 Associate of Arts (AA) degree recipients were working in Florida (including federal agencies) in the fourth quarter of the year following their graduation. Approximately half of AA degree recipients (47 percent) were also continuing their education in some way. Asian Americans had the lowest combined employment and enrollment rates. Female graduates were employed and continuing their education at higher rates than male graduates.
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
Percentage employed: includes individuals who were employed regardless of their enrollment status. Outcomes are based on the fourth quarter of 2009. Only employment in Florida and federal agencies is considered.
Continuing education: outcomes are based on enrollment data for the 2009 fall semester and preliminary 2010 winter/spring semester. Continuing education information is obtained by matching records of student graduates with data from the Florida Department of Education. These data include fall and preliminary winter enrollment records from four separate databases maintained by the Florida State University System, community colleges, school districts, and the Office of Student Financial Aid as well as the National Student Clearinghouse, which contains information on students' education at out-of-state public or private institutions.
The Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP) publishes student follow-up information. This information is obtained by matching records of graduates, completers, or exiters from various sources – including school districts, selected private vocational schools, colleges and universities, Welfare Transition Services, Workforce Investment Act programs, the corrections system, Farm Worker Jobs and Education programs, and surveys – with administrative databases. These databases include the Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Postal Service, and National Student Clearinghouse. Estimates were calculated using data from FETPIP and do not appear in the original source.