17. A Proposal to Study the Education and Skill Barriers Ottawa Students are Facing
17. Are university graduates meeting Ottawa’s job market needs?
Institution: Carleton University
CSWB plan priority: Integrated and simpler systems
Project Term: Winter 2024
Course Code: ISAP 2002
Professor: Vivian Nguyen
Group Members: Ellen Young
Background: A lack of knowledge regarding how well students’ education and experience match current job requirements across the city hinders initiatives focused on promoting the increased retention of university graduates as a potential solution to Ottawa’s broader talent retention problem.
Objective(s): This study aims to describe what types of degrees students are pursuing, identify educational and experience-related student employment barriers, and identify skills barriers employers are facing.
Approach: I propose that secondary government data, as well as data collected through surveys and interviews with current university students, be used to analyze how the degree type, degree level, and co-op participation rates of students compare to the requirements of jobs in Ottawa.
Potential for Impact: Policies to encourage its post-secondary institutions to modify their curricula to meet the needs of the labor market and ensure students are graduating with the skills needed to gain employment in Ottawa.