Workforce Preparation and Employment Outcomes
Employment Outcomes: Washington
What Is Measured?
Employment rate in 2006
Who Is Counted?
Washington Community and Technical Colleges IT students enrolled in 2000-01 and who completed a program or left by spring of 2004-05
What It Tells Us
Students entering Washington Community and Technical Colleges in 2000-01 and who attained both an associate degree and a certificate in an IT field were employed at a higher rate, both overall and full time, compared with those who earned a single credential or no credential.
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
Information Technology: includes Computer Programming; Data Processing; Information Science/Studies; Computer Systems Analysis; Computer Software and Media Applications; Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications; Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; and other. Excludes certain courses related to more general computer and office skills.
IT Concentrator: students who did not earn a certificate or associate degree, but took at least four IT courses or earned at least 12 credits in IT.
Employment data come from Washington State Unemployment Insurance (UI) wage records and include data from Washington and neighboring states. UI data do not include those working for the federal government, serving in the military, self-employed, working "off the books," or employed outside of Washington and neighboring states. Students who transferred to other schools subsequent to their enrollment in Washington Community and Technical Colleges were excluded, as were students still enrolled there as of 2005-06.