BCStudent

Outcomes
Shaping Post-Secondary Education

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES

fact sheet
Focus on STEM:
Outcomes of Former Post-Secondary
Students Who Participated in
Science, Technology, Engineering, or
Mathematics and Computer Programs
A significant percentage of the former students who are surveyed
by BC Student Outcomes every year have participated in STEM
programs; that is, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
and computer programs, which include computer science and infor-
mation technology-related programs. A full list of the STEM programs
taken by post-secondary students who were eligible for the survey is
appended to this fact sheet.1

PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
STEM PROGRAMS OVER TIME
Over the past five years, there has been an increase in the overall numbers of gradu-
ates and near-completers from STEM programs. The most noticeable growth has
been in STEM diploma programs.

Men participated in these programs at significantly higher rates than women.

1. The STEM designation is based on the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)

2011 STEM groupings from Statistics Canada.
Notes: The following figures use data from each whole cohort submitted for survey-
ing, not just respondents. The years shown are survey years—the years the data were
collected. Trades foundation programs are not included.

Baccalaureate
Percentages of baccalaureate
40%
graduates from STEM programs
have been consistent over the
30% past five years.
20% 21% 22% 22%
20%
20%

10%

0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Men Women Total

Associate Degree
The percentage of male former
40%
associate degree STEM students
has increased since 2013.
30%

20%

9% 9% 8%
10% 6% 6%

0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Men Women Total

Diploma
The percentage of former
40%
diploma students who took a
STEM program has increased
30% steadily between 2013 and
22% 2017.
19% 19%
20% 18%
15%

10%

0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Men Women Total

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 2

Certificate
There has been some
40% fluctuation in the percentages
of male former certificate
30% students who took STEM
programs.

20%

12% 11% 11% 10% 11%

10%

0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Men Women Total

STEM PROGRAM GROUPS

In 2017, participation in STEM programs varied significantly by the type of pro-
gram and by credential.

Technology programs were associated with diploma and certificate credentials

rather than baccalaureate or associate degree; the number of students participat-
ing in these programs was very low, however.2

Overall, women participated in science programs at a higher rate than men. In

other areas, especially engineering, women were greatly outnumbered.

Notes: The following figures use data from each whole cohort eligible for surveying in
2017, not just respondents. The percentages shown are of those in the named STEM
group, based on those who took STEM programs. Trades foundation programs are
not inlcuded.

Baccalaureate
Over half of the baccalaureate
Science 52% STEM graduates took a science
program.
Engineering 28%

Math & Computer 19%

Technology 1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Men Women

2. The list of programs defined as “technology” by the Statistics Canada 2011 groupings
was limited and there were only five technology programs taken by former students
eligible for the Student Outcomes surveys. See the appended List of STEM Programs.
BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 3
Associate Degree
Almost half of the former
Math & Computer associate degree STEM students
46%
took math and computer
Science programs.
43%

Engineering
11%

Technology
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Men Women

Diploma
Engineering programs were
Engineering 54% taken by over half of the former
diploma STEM students.
Science 25%

Math & Computer 17%

Technology 5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Men Women

Certificate
Almost half of the former
Math & Computer 48% certificate STEM students were
from math and computer
Engineering 44% programs.
Technology 6%

Science 1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Men Women

FURTHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

FURTHER EDUCATION
The overall rate of further education for STEM graduates and near-completers
was not too different than that of those from other programs. However, there were
significant differences in further study rates by credential and between the differ-
ent STEM groups.

In general, former students who completed science programs were more likely
than others to take further education.

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 4

Notes: The following percentages are of respondents who participated in formal
post-secondary education or training after graduating or nearly completing their
programs, based on all 2017 respondents (excluding those from foundation trades
programs). The numbers of respondents from baccalaureate and associate degree
technology programs and from certificate science programs are too low to permit
further analysis.

Baccalaureate
Two-thirds of baccalaureate
science graduates took further
Science 67%
education.
Non-STEM 45%

Math & Computer 28%

Engineering 25%

Associate Degree
Former associate degree
Engineering 94% students were very likely to take
further education, especially
Science 82% those from engineering
programs.
Non-STEM 77%

Math & Computer 74%

Diploma
Over half of the former diploma
Science 53% science students went on to
further studies.
Non-STEM 41%
Technology 38%
Engineering 38%
Math & Computer 23%

Certificate
Close to half of the former
students from certificate
Engineering 45%
engineering programs took
Math & Computer 33% further education.

Non-STEM 26%

Technology 24%

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 5

LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION
Overall, the labour force participation and employment rates for former STEM
students were less favourable than the rates of non-STEM respondents. However,
the rates varied considerably by STEM group and by credential. Baccalaureate
graduates had high labour force participation and employment rates; the low rates
for associate degree students reflected their high level of participation in further
education.

Notes: In the following charts, the Labour Force Participation rate is the number of
respondents employed or looking for work as a percentage of all 2017 respondents.
The Employment rate is the number employed as a percentage of all respondents. The
Unemployment rate is the number of unemployed as a percentage of respondents in
the labour force. Respondents from trades foundation programs are not included.

Baccalaureate
Baccalaureate engineering
graduates had high labour
4.5%
Engineering 90%
force participation and
94% employment rates.

5.5%
Math & Computer 87%
92%

5.4%
Non-STEM 86%
91%

12.2%
Science 61%
70%

Unemployment Employment Labour Force Participation

Associate Degree
The employment outcomes of
respondents from associate
11.9%
degree programs reflected their
Non-STEM 60%
69%
high rates of further education.

17.9%
Math & Computer 49%
60%

14.3%
Science 47%
56%

16.7%
Engineering 29%
38%

Unemployment Employment Labour Force Participation

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 6

Diploma
Respondents from diploma
13.4% programs had good rates of
Math & Computer 78% labour force participation and
92% employment.

7.3%
Non-STEM 81%
89%

9.8%
Science 77%
86%

8.8%
Engineering 72%
80%

11.5%
Technology 69%
79%

Unemployment Employment Labour Force Participation

Certificate
The labour force participation
and employment rates of
8.3%
Technology 89%
former certificate students,
97% especially those from
technology programs, were
5.9% very good.
Non-STEM 87%
94%

12.0%
Math & Computer 80%
92%

17.7%
Engineering 63%
78%

Unemployment Employment Labour Force Participation

EARNINGS
Overall, employed former STEM students tended to earn higher incomes than
those from non-STEM programs. There were substantial differences by credential
and between STEM groups.

Former engineering students, with the exception of those from diploma programs,
reported the highest full-time annual salaries or highest hourly wages.

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 7

Note: Amounts shown in the following charts are medians, based on respondents
who were employed full-time and reported salary or wage amounts. Baccalaureate
respondents reported annual salary; others reported hourly wage. Respondents from
trades foundation programs are not included.

Baccalaureate
On average, baccalaureate
engineering graduates
reported the highest annual
salaries.
$67,500
$62,000
$50,450
$50,450
$45,000

Science Math & Computer Engineering Non-STEM

Associate Degree
Respondents from associate
degree STEM programs didn’t
show a lot of variation in
$16 $16 $17 $17 earnings.

Engineering Non-STEM Science Math & Computer

Diploma
On average, diploma science
respondents earned the highest
hourly wage.
$27
$23
$18 $20 $19

Technology Math & Computer Engineering Science Non-STEM

Certificate
Respondents from certificate
programs, especially those
from technology, had good
hourly wages.
$27
$23 $23
$20

Engineering Math & Computer Non-STEM Technology

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 8

OCCUPATIONS
With the exception of former associate degree students, substantial percentages
of employed STEM respondents were working in STEM occupations. There were
significant differences by credential and STEM group.

STEM occupations include natural and applied sciences occupations such as en-
gineers, computer scientists, and biologists, technical occupations in motion pic-
tures and broadcasting, telecommunications workers, and related management
occupations.3

Notes: Percentages shown in the following charts are of those who have STEM oc-
cupations, based on employed respondents in each group. The numbers of associate
degree completers employed in STEM occupations are too low to report. Respondents
from trades foundation programs are not included.

Baccalaureate
A large majority of
Engineering 80% baccalaureate engineering
graduates were employed in
Math & Computer 71% STEM occupations.

Science 25%

Non-STEM 5%

Diploma
Almost two-thirds of diploma
Math & Computer 65% students who took math and
computer programs were
Engineering 58% employed in STEM occupations.

Technology 52%

Science 5%

Non-STEM 5%

Certificate
Over half of the certificate
Math & Computer 59% students who took math and
computer science programs
Technology 21% were employed in STEM
occupations.
Engineering 19%

Non-STEM 3%

3. From the “WorkBC Labour Market Outlook Profile: Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) Occupations,” B.C. 2017 Labour Market Outlook.

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 9

ABOUT BC STUDENT OUTCOMES
The annual BC Student Outcomes surveys collect information from former post-
secondary students, who have completed a program of study at a B.C. post-sec-
ondary institution. Survey respondents are asked to evaluate their educational ex-
periences and to talk about their current employment and further education. For
more information, see the BC Student Outcomes website.

The BC Student Outcomes surveys are conducted with funding from the Ministry
of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, the participating British Columbia
post-secondary institutions, and the Industry Training Authority.

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 10

APPENDIX
Data Notes
The years shown for survey results are survey years; that is, the years the data were
collected. On average, the respondents left their post-secondary programs one to
two years before they were surveyed.

The coding for STEM programs was based on the Classification of Instructional
Programs (CIP) 2011 STEM groupings from Statistics Canada.

There are no apprenticeship STEM programs; therefore no data from the appren-
ticeship or trades foundation surveying are included. The numbers for certificate
and diploma programs below do not include trades foundation programs.

2017 Data Collection Numbers

Credential Baccalaureate Associate Degree Diploma Certificate
Cohort 23,715 3,240 10,501 8,819
Respondents 10,642 1,446 5,554 4,803
Response Rate 45% 45% 53% 54%
STEM Cohort 5,224 261 2,342 927
STEM Respondents 2,490 116 1,448 561
STEM Response Rate 48% 44% 62% 61%

STEM Cohorts 2013 to 2017

Baccalaureate 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Cohort 18,823 21,468 22,495 23,642 23,715
STEM Cohort 3,838 4,309 4,782 5,212 5,224
STEM % of Cohort 20% 20% 21% 22% 22%

Associate Degree 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Cohort 3,546 4,381 4,433 3,874 3,240
STEM Cohort 216 277 409 367 261
STEM % of Cohort 6% 6% 9% 10% 8%

Diploma 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Cohort 11,462 10,288 10,266 10,217 10,870
STEM Cohort 1,656 1,789 1,894 1,885 2,342
STEM % of Cohort 14% 17% 18% 18% 22%

Certificate 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Cohort 13,382 13,110 12,666 13,607 14,332
STEM Cohort 1,215 1,067 1,010 879 927
STEM % of Cohort 9% 8% 8% 6% 6%

List of STEM Programs (attached)

BC Student Outcomes 2013 to 2017

BC STUDENT OUTCOMES FACT SHEET • PAGE 11