DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY-COLLEGE EDUCATION ON OCCUPATIONAL-STATUS ATTAINMENT IN ONTARIO

Research into occupational status attainment in both the United States and Canada has largely ignored the effects of "type" of post-secondary education on occupational status outcomes. This study has utilized a longitudinal database tracking Ontario residents in order to examine the nature and extent to which graduates of community colleges achieve lower status occupations than their university counterparts. Reported occupations were recoded into Blishen status scores. In terms of average occupational status outcomes, community college graduates fare less well than university graduates. Our research findings support the claim that, with differentiation and diversification of post-secondary education, the quality as well as the quantity of education ought to receive research attention.