A preliminary study on identifying factors affecting the hidden career paths for science graduates and the level of job satisfaction among the graduates of state universities in Sri Lanka

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.