North Carolina State University
Fall 1998 Employer Survey:
Employee Gender/Ethnicity Comparisons
(Professional Preparation)

 

This document reports employer's assessments of the skills and knowledge their NC State Alumni employees possess, while considering employee gender and ethnicity. The skills and knowledge items addressed comprise a total of seven overall categories. Survey results for all respondents are provided in Fall 1998 Employer Survey: All Respondents. For information about the survey and analysis methods see Fall 1998 Survey of Baccalaureate Alumni and Employer Surveys: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile.

You can directly download an excel file of results by gender and race/ethnicity differences for all survey items.

Overall Evaluation of Educational Preparation of Employed Alumni

Importance and Graduate's Knowledge and Skills Ratings

Mean Comparisons Only

Means and Accompanying Frequencies
 

 

Overall Evaluation of Educational Preparation of Employed Alumni
Graduate's preparation compared to other employees All Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
Mean
3.73 3.67 3.78 3.50 3.74 3.79
5: Much better
%
18.8 17.6 19.5 6.3 19.8 7.1
4: Somewhat better
%
37.0 32.7 40.0 37.5 35.8 64.3
3: About the same
%
43.2 49.0 39.1 56.3 43.2 28.6
2: Somewhat poorer
%
1.1 0.7 1.4 . 1.2 .
1: Much poorer
%
. . . . . .
Survey item q21 (exact wording)
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Mean Comparisons

Importance Rating

Skill/Knowledge

Importance Mean Rating
[5: "very important", 4: "important", 3: "mod. important",
2: "of limited imp.", 1: "not important"]

All

Women

Men

AfAm

White

Other

Imp. Overall Communication Skills

4.7

4.8

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.6

Imp. Conducting Work in an Ethical Manner

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.8

Imp. Attitude Towards Work

4.7

4.8

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.7

Imp. Work Attitudes and Skills Overall

4.7

4.8

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.7

Imp. Professionalism

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.5

Imp. Listening Skills

4.6

4.8

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.6

Imp. Understanding and Carrying Out Assignments

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.5

Imp. Professional Traits Overall

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.4

Imp. Being Dependable and Punctual

4.6

4.6

4.5

4.6

4.6

4.2

Imp. Solving Problems

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.4

4.6

4.5

Imp. Ability Adjust new Work Demands

4.6

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.6

4.4

Imp. Using Knowledge to Solve Problems

4.6

4.6

4.5

4.3

4.6

4.5

Imp. Working Under Pressure

4.5

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.5

4.4

Imp. Ability to Work Independently

4.5

4.6

4.4

4.5

4.5

4.4

Imp. Willingness to Accept New Responsibilities

4.5

4.5

4.5

4.4

4.5

4.5

Imp. Professional Development Overall

4.5

4.6

4.4

4.4

4.5

4.3

Imp. Ability to Grow on the Job

4.5

4.5

4.4

4.4

4.5

4.4

Imp. Ability to Work in Teams

4.5

4.6

4.4

4.3

4.5

4.6

Imp. Resourcefulness

4.5

4.5

4.5

4.4

4.5

4.2

Imp. Confidence in Performance

4.4

4.4

4.5

4.4

4.4

4.4

Imp. Thinking Creatively

4.4

4.5

4.4

4.1

4.4

4.4

Imp. Defining Problems

4.4

4.5

4.4

4.1

4.4

4.4

Imp. Written Communication Skills

4.4

4.5

4.3

4.3

4.4

4.4

Imp. Ability to Learn Independently

4.4

4.5

4.3

4.4

4.4

4.2

Imp. Making Decisions Under Pressure

4.4

4.5

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.1

Imp. Reading Skills

4.3

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.3

4.2

Imp. Planning Projects

4.3

4.4

4.3

4.1

4.3

4.4

Imp. Overall Technical Knowledge

4.3

4.1

4.4

3.9

4.3

4.2

Imp. Ability Work with Diverse Persons

4.2

4.4

4.0

4.4

4.2

4.1

Imp. Bringing Ideas/Information Together

4.1

4.2

4.0

3.8

4.1

3.9

Imp. Conceptual Ability

4.1

4.2

4.0

3.9

4.1

4.0

Imp. Overall knowledge of Computer Applications.

4.1

4.1

4.1

3.4

4.1

4.4

Grads Solving Problems

4.0

4.0

4.1

3.7

4.0

4.3

Imp. Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.6

4.0

4.1

Imp. Basic Computer Skills

4.0

4.1

3.9

3.3

4.0

4.1

Imp. leadership and management Skills

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.5

4.0

4.1

Imp. Relevant Coursework

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.7

3.9

3.8

Imp. Understanding How Organizational Systems Interact

3.9

4.0

3.8

3.7

3.9

3.6

Imp. Academic Background

3.8

3.9

3.8

3.7

3.8

3.6

Imp. Ability to Apply Math Skills

3.8

3.7

3.8

3.6

3.8

3.8

Imp. Ability to Apply Scientific Principles

3.7

3.4

3.9

3.2

3.7

3.7

Imp. Previous work, volunteer, or Internship Experience

3.6

3.6

3.5

3.6

3.6

3.5

Imp. GPA

3.3

3.4

3.3

3.3

3.3

3.0

Imp. Technical Computer Skills

3.0

2.8

3.1

2.3

3.0

3.5

Imp. Foreign Language Skills

1.9

2.1

1.8

1.9

1.9

1.8

Survey items (exact wording)
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Graduate's Knowledge and Skill Rating

Skill/Knowledge

Graduate's Performance Mean Rating
[5: "Excellent", 4: "Good", 3: "Average",
2: "Fair", 1: "Poor"]

All

Women

Men

AfAm

White

Other

Grads Conducting Work in an Ethical Manner

4.6

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.6

4.8

Grads Willingness to Accept New Responsibilities

4.4

4.4

4.4

3.9

4.4

4.4

Grads Being Dependable and Punctual

4.4

4.4

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.3

Grads Attitude Towards Work

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.2

4.4

4.6

Grads Ability Work with Diverse Persons

4.4

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.4

4.4

Grads Professionalism

4.4

4.4

4.3

4.4

4.4

4.3

Grads Professional Traits Overall

4.4

4.4

4.3

3.9

4.4

4.7

Grads Ability to Work Independently

4.4

4.4

4.3

4.2

4.4

4.2

Grads Work Attitudes and Skills Overall

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.2

4.3

4.5

Grads Professional Development Overall

4.3

4.4

4.3

4.1

4.3

4.5

Grads Understanding and Carrying Out Assignments

4.3

4.4

4.3

4.1

4.3

4.4

Grads Ability to Learn Independently

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.0

4.3

4.4

Grads Ability to Grow on the Job

4.3

4.3

4.3

3.9

4.3

4.5

Grads Reading Skills

4.3

4.4

4.2

4.2

4.3

4.2

Grads Ability Adjust new Work Demands

4.3

4.2

4.3

3.9

4.3

4.5

Grads Resourcefulness

4.2

4.2

4.2

3.7

4.2

4.4

Grads Ability to Work in Teams

4.2

4.2

4.2

3.8

4.2

4.5

Grads Listening Skills

4.2

4.2

4.2

3.9

4.2

4.2

Grads Basic Computer Skills

4.2

4.2

4.2

4.1

4.2

4.4

Grads Academic Background

4.2

4.2

4.1

4.2

4.2

4.1

Grads Confidence in Performance

4.2

4.1

4.2

3.9

4.2

4.5

Grads Overall Communication Skills

4.2

4.4

4.0

3.9

4.2

4.2

Grads GPA

4.1

4.2

4.1

4.0

4.1

3.9

Grads Written Communication Skills

4.1

4.3

4.0

3.8

4.1

4.1

Grads Overall Technical Knowledge

4.1

4.0

4.2

3.8

4.1

4.3

Grads Overall knowledge of Computer Applications.

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.0

4.1

4.3

Grads Working Under Pressure

4.1

4.1

4.1

3.8

4.1

4.4

Grads Relevant Coursework

4.1

4.1

4.1

3.9

4.1

3.8

Grads Using Knowledge to Solve Problems

4.1

4.1

4.1

3.6

4.1

4.2

Grads Previous work, volunteer, or Internship Experience

4.0

4.1

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.8

Grads Previous work, volunteer, or Internship Experience

4.0

4.1

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.8

Grads Thinking Creatively

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.7

4.0

4.1

Grads Defining Problems

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.8

4.0

4.1

Grads Ability to Apply Math Skills

4.0

3.9

4.0

3.9

4.0

3.9

Grads Making Decisions Under Pressure

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.7

4.0

3.9

Grads Planning Projects

4.0

4.1

3.9

3.8

4.0

4.1

Grads Ability to Apply Scientific Principles

3.9

3.8

4.0

3.6

3.9

4.1

Grads Conceptual Ability

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.8

3.9

3.9

Grads Bringing Ideas/Information Together

3.9

4.0

3.8

3.8

3.9

3.9

Grads Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

3.9

4.0

3.8

3.3

3.9

4.0

Grads Understanding How Organizational Systems Interact

3.8

3.9

3.8

3.6

3.8

3.7

Grads leadership and management Skills

3.8

3.8

3.7

3.4

3.8

3.9

Grads Technical Computer Skills

3.6

3.5

3.7

3.3

3.6

3.9

Grads Foreign Language Skills

3.0

3.3

2.7

3.0

2.9

4.0

Survey items (exact wording)
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Means and Frequencies

Importance and Performance of Communications Skills
Imp. Overall communication skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.71 4.81 4.64 4.68 4.72 4.65
3: Mod. Important
%
3.2 1.2 4.6 5.3 3.3 .
4: Important
%
22.4 16.4 26.6 21.1 21.9 35.3
5: Very Important
%
74.4 82.4 68.8 73.7 74.9 64.7
Survey item qa1 (exact wording)
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Grads Overall communication skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.17 4.36 4.03 3.94 4.18 4.18
2: Fair
%
2.2 . 3.8 5.6 2.2 .
3: Average
%
14.5 7.9 19.1 22.2 14.2 11.8
4: Good
%
47.6 48.5 47.0 44.4 47.3 58.8
5: Excellent
%
35.7 43.6 30.1 27.8 36.3 29.4
Survey item qb1 (exact wording)
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Imp. Listening skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.65 4.77 4.57 4.58 4.65 4.65
3: Mod. Important
%
3.0 1.8 3.8 . 3.0 5.9
4: Important
%
29.2 19.5 35.9 42.1 28.8 23.5
5: Very Important
%
67.8 78.7 60.3 57.9 68.2 70.6
Survey item qa1_4 (exact wording)
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Grads Listening skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.19 4.23 4.16 3.95 4.20 4.18
1: Poor
%
0.7 0.6 0.8 . 0.8 .
2: Fair
%
2.7 2.4 2.9 5.3 2.5 5.9
3: Average
%
14.1 15.9 13.0 21.1 14.2 5.9
4: Good
%
41.4 35.4 45.6 47.4 40.6 52.9
5: Excellent
%
40.9 45.7 37.7 26.3 42.0 35.3
Survey item qb1_4 (exact wording)
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Imp. Written communication skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.40 4.52 4.32 4.28 4.41 4.35
2: Of Limited Imp.
%
1.5 0.6 2.1 . 1.6 .
3: Mod. Important
%
8.2 6.7 9.2 16.7 7.6 11.8
4: Important
%
39.0 32.3 43.5 38.9 38.9 41.2
5: Very Important
%
51.4 60.4 45.2 44.4 51.9 47.1
Survey item qa1_1 (exact wording)
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Grads Written communication skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.11 4.27 4.00 3.76 4.13 4.06
1: Poor
%
0.8 . 1.3 5.9 0.6 .
2: Fair
%
3.0 1.2 4.3 5.9 3.0 .
3: Average
%
14.9 12.3 16.7 23.5 14.3 17.6
4: Good
%
47.1 44.8 48.7 35.3 47.1 58.8
5: Excellent
%
34.3 41.7 29.1 29.4 35.0 23.5
Survey item qb1_1 (exact wording)
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Imp. Reading skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.33 4.40 4.28 4.42 4.33 4.24
2: Of Limited Imp.
%
1.7 1.8 1.7 . 1.6 5.9
3: Mod. Important
%
11.2 11.0 11.3 5.3 11.4 11.8
4: Important
%
39.7 32.9 44.4 47.4 39.5 35.3
5: Very Important
%
47.4 54.3 42.7 47.4 47.4 47.1
Survey item qa1_3 (exact wording)
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Grads Reading skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.27 4.39 4.18 4.22 4.27 4.24
1: Poor
%
0.3 . 0.4 . 0.3 .
2: Fair
%
1.0 0.6 1.3 . 1.1 .
3: Average
%
10.4 6.3 13.3 11.1 10.3 11.8
4: Good
%
48.3 46.3 49.8 55.6 47.8 52.9
5: Excellent
%
39.9 46.9 35.2 33.3 40.5 35.3
Survey item qb1_3 (exact wording)
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Imp. Public speaking and presentation skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.03 4.01 4.03 3.58 4.04 4.12
1: Not Important
%
2.0 2.5 1.7 5.3 1.9 .
2: Of Limited Imp.
%
7.5 8.6 6.8 21.1 6.6 11.8
3: Mod. Important
%
18.5 20.2 17.3 10.5 19.5 5.9
4: Important
%
30.0 22.7 35.0 36.8 29.1 41.2
5: Very Important
%
42.0 46.0 39.2 26.3 42.9 41.2
Survey item qa1_2 (exact wording)
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Grads Public speaking and presentation skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
3.85 3.97 3.78 3.33 3.87 4.00
1: Poor
%
0.8 . 1.3 6.7 0.6 .
2: Fair
%
8.0 5.3 9.8 13.3 7.8 5.9
3: Average
%
21.8 22.4 21.4 33.3 21.2 23.5
4: Good
%
43.9 42.8 44.6 33.3 44.8 35.3
5: Excellent
%
25.5 29.6 22.8 13.3 25.6 35.3
Survey item qb1_2 (exact wording)
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Imp. Foreign language skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
1.93 2.11 1.80 1.88 1.94 1.77
1: Not Important
%
40.6 31.2 46.9 50.0 40.0 46.2
2: Of Limited Imp.
%
38.4 41.3 36.4 25.0 39.2 30.8
3: Mod. Important
%
12.2 16.5 9.3 12.5 11.6 23.1
4: Important
%
5.5 7.3 4.3 12.5 5.6 .
5: Very Important
%
3.3 3.7 3.1 . 3.6 .
Survey item qa6 (exact wording)
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Grads Foreign language skills NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
2.96 3.26 2.74 3.00 2.87 4.00
1: Poor
%
19.5 6.0 29.4 . 21.7 .
2: Fair
%
17.8 20.0 16.2 33.3 17.9 11.1
3: Average
%
24.6 32.0 19.1 33.3 25.5 11.1
4: Good
%
23.7 26.0 22.1 33.3 21.7 44.4
5: Excellent
%
14.4 16.0 13.2 . 13.2 33.3
Survey item qb6 (exact wording)
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Importance and Performance of Work Attitudes and Skills
Imp. Work attitudes and skills overall NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.68 4.77 4.62 4.72 4.68 4.67
3: Mod. Important
%
1.9 1.3 2.2 5.6 1.7 .
4: Important
%
28.4 20.3 33.9 16.7 28.8 33.3
5: Very Important
%
69.8 78.4 63.8 77.8 69.5 66.7
Survey item qa12 (exact wording)
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Grads Work attitudes and skills overall NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.33 4.34 4.33 4.22 4.33 4.50
1: Poor
%
0.3 . 0.5 . 0.3 .
2: Fair
%
2.1 2.6 1.8 . 2.3 .
3: Average
%
8.6 9.3 8.1 22.2 7.9 7.1
4: Good
%
42.1 39.7 43.7 33.3 42.8 35.7
5: Excellent
%
46.9 48.3 45.9 44.4 46.6 57.1
Survey item qb12 (exact wording)
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Imp. Attitude towards work NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.69 4.79 4.63 4.68 4.69 4.71
3: Mod. Important
%
1.5 0.6 2.1 . 1.6 .
4: Important
%
27.5 20.2 32.5 31.6 27.2 29.4
5: Very Important
%
71.0 79.1 65.4 68.4 71.1 70.6
Survey item qa12_1 (exact wording)
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Grads Attitude towards work NCSU Gender Race/Ethnicity
Women Men African
American
White Other
 
Mean
4.37 4.34 4.39 4.16 4.38 4.56