A graduate tracer study by Holeta Polytechnic College (HPC) has found that 80.6% of the college graduates of 2023 obtained employment.

The study aimed to assess the employment outcomes of HPC graduates, examining factors like graduate and instructor competence, institutional capacity, and industry partnerships.

The research assessed the commitment and expertise of graduates and instructors, the qualitative and quantitative aspects of resource allocation, training and evaluation methodologies involving industry collaboration and cooperative training (CT), and the influence of human and material resources on graduate’s competency and satisfaction.

Data collection involved a census of 124 graduates using pre-tested questionnaires, along with interviews with 10 employers and 20 college staff members, totaling 154 participants.

The study revealed notable gender disparities in employment rates. Male graduates exhibited a wide range, from 68.8% to 100%, with an overall employment rate of 91.8%. Conversely, female graduates showed employment rates ranging from 22.2% to 100%, with a lower overall rate of 56.4%.

The majority of graduates (85%) were employed full-time, with another 10% employed temporarily. Regarding workplaces, 70% worked in government institutions, followed by 22% in private enterprises.

These findings underscore the disparities in employment rates between genders and emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to enhance job readiness and advance gender equality in the labor force.

By Dawit Tadesse, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at Holeta Polytechnic College.