Factors in the Regional Retention of Graduates from Health and Social Services Program : Results of the 2019 and 2020 Surveys of Health and Social Services Career Program Students at English Colleges in Quebec

A survey was undertaken in 2019 and 2020 on opinions of students attending six English-language Quebec CEGEPs that offer relevant health and social services programs to determine their plans for location of work once they complete their studies, the reasons that influenced their choice of where to locate after graduation and the factors that could persuade them to work in a region of Quebec outside of the Montreal metropolitan area. Though they are studying at an English-language college, about fifteen percent of respondents had French as both their main language and the language they use most in their daily life. Fourteen percent of respondents say their main language is other than French or English; most of these respondents say English is the language that they use in their daily lives. Following the completion of their studies, the majority (56 percent) say they want to work in the metropolitan Montreal area, with eighteen percent being unsure. Only twelve percent plan to work in another region of Quebec, with a greater percentage of this latter group being French-speaking respondents. Overall, fourteen percent already plan to leave the Province for work, with those students in a nursing program being the greatest percent of these respondents. The survey found that about the same percentage of English- and French-speaking respondents in nursing programs intend to leave Quebec. The top two reasons chosen by respondents for why they chose where they wish to work are “Family and friends”, and “Opportunity for employment." “Closer to home” was third. Language proficiency ranks sixth out of the eight offered reasons. However, for the respondents who say they plan to leave Quebec for work, “Language proficiency” is the number one reason, with “Possibility of employment” being second. Seventy percent of respondents indicated that they were willing or might be willing to consider establishing themselves in Quebec outside of metropolitan Montreal.

(Survey)

Sainte Anne de Bellevue, QC

John Abbott College

April 27, 2021

106p.

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