Employability and Employment Outcomes of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education Graduates: A Tracer Study

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the employability and employment outcomes of Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education (BTLED) and Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTED) graduates through a tracer study. A descriptive-correlational study was conducted, using data from 428 graduates of a state university in Northern Luzon, Philippines who finished their studies from 2018 to 2024. A validated researcher-developed questionnaire addressed employment status, job relevance, time to first employment, licensure, professional development, and perceived competency utilization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analyses. The results show that most of the graduates got employed within one year after graduation and several of them got positions related to their field of study. Completion of licensure examination, attending professional development activities, and self-assessment of technical and transferable skills were linked to good employment outcomes. There were also some graduates who were seen to have delayed employment and job mismatch. The results illustrate the complex nature of employability and imply that factors such as curriculum relevance, licensure support, and work-integrated learning are important in enhancing the employment outcomes of technical-vocational teacher education graduates.