Determining factors of labour market outcomes for recently graduated, underrepresented college students

Abstract

This study examined the factors that determined labour market outcomes for recently graduated, underrepresented college students. Chile’s largest higher education institution, which has a significant number of first-generation students from more deprived social sectors, was considered. A quantitative methodology was applied using logistic and multinomial regression models. Occupational status and income level were chosen as the dependent variables and five dimensions of independent variables were considered: sociodemographic attributes, human capital, academic characteristics, personality traits, and work environment. The results indicated that males, graduates who worked during their studies, heads of households, graduates from technical-professional high schools, those who completed their higher education studies in a timely manner, those who worked for larger private companies, and those who worked in a different geographical region to the one in which they studied had better labour market outcomes. Suggestions for institutional practices to help underrepresented students have successful career transitions are discussed.