Student Level Factors That Influence the Employability of

Student level factors influencing the employability of technical and further education (TAFE) graduates over time were examined. Student Outcomes Survey (SOS) data were collected from 4,673 South Australian 1998 TAFE graduates and 2,819 South Australian 1999 TAFE graduates. Some students were employed (part time or full time), whereas others were unemployed. Some were employed before starting the course, some were also employed during the course, and some were unemployed. The data sets were subjected to partial least squares path analysis. The analysis established that those more likely to be employed after graduation from TAFE were the following: students who began the TAFE course while still enrolled in secondary school or within 12 months after leaving school; students who were employed before starting the course; graduates who provided vocational reasons for taking the course; students who were employed during the course; and graduates who received higher qualifications from the course. Employment status before and during TAFE training was thus a strong factor influencin