TORONTO, Sep 12, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Nearly six out of 10 Canadian workers feel their school education prepared them well for working life, but even more wish they had studied harder and further.
These are among the key findings of the 2008 Kelly Global Workforce Index (NASDAQ: KELYA) (NASDAQ: KELYB) that sought the views of 115,000 people in 33 countries, including more than 11,000 in Canada.
Among the Canadians surveyed, 59 percent believe that their schooling prepared them for the real world. In retrospect, however, 63 percent wish they had studied harder and 72 percent would have studied further.
Nevertheless, Canadian respondents generally appear to be very satisfied with their personal career choices -- especially those who are in the fields of engineering, information technology, and science/pharmaceutical, where fewer than 10 percent say they chose the wrong career.
"The importance of getting the most from a formal education is a reality that many people appreciate only later in their career," said Karin French, vice president and managing director, Kelly Services Canada. "The good news is that many are open to upgrading their skills later in life through continuing education."
Key findings among Canadian survey participants include:
-- 72 percent wish that they had studied further. -- 41 percent wish that they had studied something totally different. -- 12 percent say that they definitely chose the wrong career, while 24 percent are 'not sure.' -- 28 percent say that their school education did not prepare them well for working life. -- 17 percent say that their post-school education did not prepare them well for working life.
Survey participants across the globe were much more satisfied with their post-school education than their school education, with a global average of 65 percent saying it prepared them well for working life; Canada ranked above the global average at 70 percent (ninth overall).
Sixty-four percent of Canadian respondents were happy with their career choice. More women than men expressed the view that they had chosen the wrong career. When asked what obstacles prevent them from pursing a different career, both men and women cited 'financial' considerations, followed by 'time' and 'family.'
The findings also provide an indication of how respondents feel about the quality of their country's education system. Canada's school system ranked seventh among 33 countries represented in the survey.
The highest level of support for school education came from India, with 69 percent saying it prepared them well for working life. That was followed by Puerto Rico (67 percent), Indonesia and Thailand (65 percent), Poland (63 percent), Spain (61 percent) and Canada, which tied with Hungary at 59 percent. The lowest rankings were for Russia and Italy (39 percent), Ukraine (37 percent), Turkey (30 percent), Denmark (29 percent), Norway (27 percent), and Sweden (26 percent).