Abstract:
The higher education landscape is changing due to increased globalization and
Competition. The study aims to investigate the factors affecting the hidden
career paths available for the science graduates in Sri Lanka and factors
affecting the level of job satisfaction of graduates through various factors by
employing statistical methodologies and descriptive and inferential statistical
techniques. The analyzed areas were categorized into few thematic clusters
and the study investigates two of them namely Hidden job market and Job
satisfaction of science graduates. The data for determining the variables are
being collected using a customized questionnaire. The study employed simple
random sampling to obtain a sample consist of 115 graduates from various
state universities in Sri Lanka. The P values obtained from the Tests of
normality, Shapiro-Wilk Test (P=0.00< 0.05) and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test
(P=0.001<0.05) concluded that the job field is hidden as P value is below 0.05.
Pearson Chi Square test results infer that the relationship between salary
satisfaction and extra qualifications pursued other than the degree have a
statistically significant difference. Within the above-mentioned thematic
clusters, the major problem identified was the hidden job market which
resulted in getting poor salaries for the employees comparatively for the work
load they engage in and the qualifications they have. The study was concluded
by outlining an agenda for future research, including introduction of joboriented
degree programs for BSc degree followers and to open ventures of
the hidden job market and make aware graduates about the job fields they have
in a systematic way.
