Is it worth doing a science or technology degree in Canada? Empirical evidence and policy implications

This paper looks at the early careers of science and technology graduates i n Canada using three waves of the National Graduates Surveys. Employment ra tes, earnings levels, jab satisfaction, the job-education skill match, and the overall evaluation of the education program are studied in order to eva luate the attractiveness of careers in science and technology and the degre e to which these graduates' skills and talents are being efficiently utiliz ed. We find that computer science and health graduates have generally done very well; that engineers have performed in a solid, although not spectacul ar, fashion; and that pure and especially applied science graduates have la gged behind, especially at the undergraduate level. The implications of the se findings for the accumulation of the science and technology knowledge ba ses in Canada in the context of the emerging "knowledge-based economy" are discussed.