The University of Hong Kong

Careers Education and Placement Centre

Where did the 1996 Social Work & Social Administration majors go?

I.Introduction

The information contained in this paper is extracted from the Graduate Employment Survey of 1996 to answer the following questions about Social Work & Social Administration graduates : -

II. Employment Situation in 1996

Of the 75 respondents who reported to major in Social Work & Social Administration, 69 graduates (92%) were in full-time employment within six months of graduation. The percentage of graduates who pursued further studies increased to 6.7% (or 5 graduates) from last year’s 1.4% (or 1 graduate) (Table 1)

Social Work & Social AdministrationHKU Overall *
TotalMaleFemale
'96 '95 '96 '95 '96 '95 '96 '95
No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.%
No. of respondents 2510075100 310021100 2210054100 21391002068100
F/T employed 22886992 31002095.2 1986.44990.7 174381.5172683.5
P/T employed seeking F/T job 28.000 0000 29.100 341.6180.9
Unemployed seeking F/T job 14.011.3 0000 14.511.9 341.6361.7
Further studies 0056.7 0014.8 0047.4 31414.728113.6
Emigration/home country 0000 0000 0000 60.2810.1
Not seeking F/T job 0000 0000 0000 80.460.3
Table 1. Employment situation

* HKU overall refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graduates.

III. Time Taken to Secure Employment

56% (37) of the Social Work and Social Administration graduates secured full-time employment before the end of August. This figure steadily increased to 97% (66) by the end of December 1995. On the whole, the 1995 graduates took longer time to secure employment than graduates of the previous year. (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Time taken to secure employment

No Response = 1

IV. Employment Sectors

62% (43) of the graduates were employed in commerce and industry, followed by 25% (17) in education. 5.8% (4) joined civil service while 7.2% (5) joined community, social and personal services. (Figure 2) Compared with female graduates, there was a higher percentage of male graduates joining commerce and industry (70% vs. 59%). Nevertheless, more female students were employed by the education sector (29% vs. 15%). (Figure 3)

Figure 2. Employment sectors

Figure 3. Employment sectors by sex

V. Basic Salary and Gross Income

Table 4 shows the basic salary and gross income that 1996 Social Work and Social Administration graduates received.

Basic SalaryGross Income
Social Work & Social AdministrationHKU Average * Social Work & Social AdministrationHKU Average *
'96'95'96'95 '96'95'96'95
Mean $17,407$11,450$14,457$14,204 $18,298$12,254$15,902$15,662
Median $20,475$10,000$12,000$12,000 $20,475$11,375$13,542$13,230
Minimum $5,800$7,000$3,000$2,000 $7,800$8,000$5,500$3,792
Maximum $20,505$18,145$55,000$60,000 $23,893$18,145$60,000$60,000

Table 4. Basic salary and gross income

* HKU average refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graudates.

VI.Number of Full-Time Job Offers

54% (37) of the Social Work & Social Administration graduates had more than one job offer. In fact, 30% (21) reported having received three or more offers. (Figure 4)

Figure 4. No. of full-time job offers

VII. Names of employers and Job titles

The job titles of 22 Social Work and Social Administration graduates in full-time employment and the names of their employers are listed below.

Employers : Job Titles :
CIVIL SERVICE -
* Labour Department* Assistant Labour Officer
* Social Welfare Department* Assistant Social Work Officer
* Social Welfare Dapartment* Assistant Social Work Officer
* Social Welfare Department* Assistant Social Work Officer
* Social Welfare Department* Assistant Social Work Officer
EDUCATION -
* S.K.H. Lee Shin Keung Primary School* Student Guidance Teacher
* The University of Hong Kong* Research Assistant
* The Universtiy of Hong Kong* Research Assistant
COMMUNITY, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL SERVICES -
* Hong Kong Christian Service * Assistant Social Work Officer
* Hong Kong Family Welfare Society * Assistant Social Work Officer
* Hong Kong Spastics Association * Assistant Social Work Officer
* Hospital Authority* Assistant Social Work Officer
* International Social Services Hong Kong Branch* Assistant Social Work Officer
* Kwong Wah Hospital * Medical Social Worker
* Kwong Wah Hospital /Medical Social Services Department* Medical Social Worker
* Kwun Tong Methodist Social Services* Family Life Education Officer
* The Boys’ & Girls’ Club Association of Hong Kong* Assistant Social Work Officer
* The Hong Kong Association for the Mentally Handicapped* Social Work Assistant
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY -
* Nu Life International Ltd* Assistant PR Co-ordinator
* PC Buz Buz* Computer Salesman
Table 5. List of employers and job titles

Note :Some alumni have indicated willingness to talk to individual students about their work. Their contact telephone number can be obtained from counsellors at CEPC.

VIII.

Similar information on graduates from other disciplines of study are available for reference in the Careers Library. Please enquire with the CEPC.
Careers Education and Placement Centre
3/F Wong Chuang Lai Wah Building
Meng Wah Complex
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong

Telephone : 2859 2314
Fax : (852) 2559 5238
E-Mail : CEPC@HKUCC.HKU.HK

Opening Hours :
Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

Margaret Lee
Nelson Yip

September, 1997

The analysis is based on information provided by the respondents, and the Careers Education & Placement Centre should not be held responsible for any errors arising therefrom.

No part of this report may be reproduced in any form or by whatever means,
without written permission from the Director of the Careers Education and Placement Centre,
The University of Hong Kong