CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter includes the tables that are used to determine – The Work Preparedness of Newly

Employed BulSU Civil Engineers in Selected Construction Firms Batch 2009 – 2013. The total

number of respondents for this study is 249 and below are the data gathered. This chapter also

includes the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data that are needed in each table.

Figure 1. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Age

Age of Respondents
79.52
80
70
60
50
40
30 16.87
20
1.2 2.41
10
0
21 - 25 yea rs ol d 26 - 30 yea rs ol d 31 - 35 yea rs ol d 36 - 40 years ol d
Age of Res pondents
Figure 1 presents the data on the distribution of age of civil engineering graduates. Of the 249

respondents, 198 or 79.52 percent fell on the age range of 26-30 years old, 42 or 16.87 percent

were on the age range 31-35 years old, 6 or 2.41 percent were on the age range 36 to 40 years

old, and 3 or 1.2 percent was on the age range 21 to 25 years old. It can be inferred from the

findings that most of the civil engineering graduates were literally at their fairly young adulthood

stage.

Figure 2. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

Gender of Respondents

34.54%
Ma l e
Femal
65.46% e

In Terms of Gender
As Reflected in Figure 2, of the 249 respondents, 163 or 65.46 percent were males and 86 or

34.54 percent were females. This means that those civil engineering graduates were dominated

by males.

Figure 3. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Year Graduated

Year Graduated

2013 25.3

2012 14.46

2011 19.68

2010 23.29

2009 17.27

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Yea r Graduated

The participation rate in the survey by respondents’ year of graduation (Figure 3) were as

follows: 2009- 17.27% (43 out of 249); 2010- 23.29% (58 out of 249); 2011- 19.68% (49 out of

249); 2012- 14.46% (36 out of 249); and 2013- 25.30% (63 out of 249).
 Figure 4. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Highest Educational Attainment

Highest Educational Attainment

0.80%

Bachel or's
Degree
99.20% Ma ster's Degree

As shown in figure 4, 247 or 99.20 percent had done the Bachelor’s degree and 2 or 0.80 percent

had finished the Master’s degree. Some of the graduates are still pursuing further studies at the

time of the survey. The percentage of respondents doing a Master’s degree or a PhD had been

declining over time.

 Figure 5. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Professional Examinations Passed

Professional Examinati ons Passed

Ci vi l Engi neeri ng 73.49

Ma ster Pl umber 5.62

Other Exa mi nations 4.02

None 25.7

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Profes s i ona l Exa mi nations Pa s s ed

Figure 5 shows that 183 or 73.49 percent of the respondents passed the Civil Engineering

Licensure Examination, 14 or 5.62 percent of the respondents passed the Master Plumber

Licensure Examination, 10 or 4.02 percent of the respondents passed other licensure

examinations related to their field, and 64 or 25.70 percent of the graduates either did not pass or

did not take any examinations.

Figure 6. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

Seminars/Trainings Attended
PICE National 20.08

PICE Nationa l Mi dyea r 10.44

ASEP Internationa l 4.82

Other Ta i ni ngs 11.65

None 53.01

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Tra i ni ngs /Semi na rs Attended

In Terms of

Seminars/Trainings Attended

Figure 6 shows proportion of respondents who attended the most essential seminars for civil

engineers. 50 or 20.08% of the respondents had attended the PICE National seminar, 26 or

10.44% of the respondents attended the PICE National Midyear, 12 or 4.82% of the respondents

attended the ASEP International, 29 or 11.65% of the respondents attended other trainings and

seminars related to their chosen field, and 132 or 53.01% of the respondents did not attend any

seminars or trainings.
 Table 1. Frequency Distribution of the Engineering Graduates
In Terms of Employment Data

Present Employment Status

f %
Regular or Permanent 184 73.90
Probationary 10 4.02
Contractual 42 16.87
Self-employed 8 3.21
Unemployed 5 2.01
Total 249 100

Table 1 shows the different employment status of the BulSU Civil Engineering Graduates (2009

– 2013). Majority of the respondents fell in having a Regular or Permanent employment status,

having a number of 184 graduates with a percentage of 73.90%. Followed by having a

Contractual status, having 42 graduates and a percentage of 16.87%. The remaining graduates

fell in the Probationary, Self-Employed, Unemployed status having a quantity of 10(4.02%),

8(3.21%), and 5(2.01%) respectively, with a total of 249 respondents. This table depicts that the

BulSU Civil Engineering Graduates (2009 – 2013), have a high rate of finding a stable job.

Table 2. Frequency Distribution of the Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Number of Years on their Current Employment

Number of Years f %
Less than a year 35 14.8
1 year 19 3
2 years 31 8.05
3 years 36 13.1
4 years 40 4
5 years 12 15.2
5 years above 63 5
16.9
 5
5.08
26.6
9
Total 23 100
6

Table 2 indicates the civil engineering graduates’ length of service on their current employment.

Only 236 specified their years of service. Out of the 236, 35 or 14.83% are working for less than

a year in their different job placement, 19 or 8.05% are working for 1 year, 31 or 13.14% are

working for 2 years, 36 or 15.25% are working for 3 years, 40 or 16.95% are working for 4

years, 12 or 5.08% are working for 5 years, and a substantial number of 63 respondents or

26.69% are working for above 5 years. The table signifies that it takes time for the civil

engineering graduates to settle for an employment that they are satisfied with.

Table 3. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of their Job Relation to Civil Engineering

Is the job related to BSCE?

f %
Yes 222 94.92
No 14 5.08
Total 236 100

As shown in Table 3, 224 or 94.92% of the respondents ended up having a job related to Civil

Engineering and a small scale figure of 12 or 5.08% of the respondents are pursuing other

ventures of employment that are not related to Civil Engineering. This only tells that a Civil

Engineer is still in demand on the job market and having a degree in Civil Engineering will still

be essential in this modern day of employment.

Table 4. Frequency Distribution of the Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Type and Location of Employer of the Graduates

DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYER
Type Location Frequency Percentage (%)
 Government Agencies National 11 4.95
(DPWH, NIA, DENR) Local 7 3.15
Vertical Construction Firms International 32 14.41
National 15 6.76
Local 23 10.36
Horizontal Construction International 16 7.21
Firms National 6 2.70
Local 11 4.95
Consultancy Firms International 8 3.60
National 7 3.15
Local 9 4.05
Academe Private 2 0.90
SUCs 3 1.35
Other Organizations International 35 15.77
National 20 9.01
Local 17 7.66
TOTAL 222 100.00
Table 4 depicts the distribution of Civil Engineering graduates in terms of the type and location

of their employer. Only 222 out of the 249 respondents have stated their place of employment.

The significant number of the respondents are divided into two types of employer. First is

Vertical Construction Firms, having 32(14.41%), 23(10.36%), and 15(6.76%) of our respondents

based on international, local, and national respectively. Lastly, the other significant number of

respondents have an employer in the category of Other Organizations having a 35(15.77%),

20(9.01%), and 17(7.66%) of our respondents based on international, national, and local

respectively. The results show that the majority of the respondents are more interested in working

on a vertical construction firms and that a significant amount of BulSU Civil Engineering

graduates is set to face the global standards (or qualified even) from their employer abroad with a

total number of 91 or 40.99%.

Table 5. Frequency Distribution of the Engineering Graduates

In Terms of their Position on their Current Job

 Position f %
Project Manager 17 7.20
Supervisor 16 6.78
Project Engineer 74 31.36
QA/QC Engineer 16 6.78
Design Engineer 11 4.66
Office Engineer 7 2.97
Planning Engineer 3 1.27
Quantity Surveyor 41 17.37
Contract Manager 2 0.85
Engineer Manager 2 0.85
Faculty 5 2.12
Safety Officer 4 1.69
Others 38 16.1
Total 23 100
6

Table 5 shows the frequency distribution of civil engineering graduates in terms of present

occupation. Most of the engineering graduates were Project Engineers (74 or 31.36%) followed

by Quantity Surveyors (41 or 17.37%), Project Managers (17 or 7.20%), Supervisors (16 or

6.78%) and QA/QC Engineers (16 or 6.78%). Few of them were Office, Design, and Planning

Engineer while some of them choses to be undergraduate civil engineering students’ professors.

Year of experience is an important factor to be called a full pledged professional. One to four

years of experience for the graduates would be good enough as preparation stage to become in

the managerial position.

Table 6. Frequency Distribution of Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of How Did They Find Their First Job

 How did you find your
4 first
1.70job? f %
1. Replied to job ads/announcements 128 54.20
2 0.80
2. With the help of family contacts of 40 16.90
parents, relatives
3. With the help of personal contacts 98 41.50
of friends, fellow students etc.
4. Through internships during my course 20 8.50
of studies
4. Through (side) jobs during study 4 1.70
5. Through (side) jobs during or after 3 1.30
graduation
6. Contacted by an employer 38 16.1
0
7. Job Fair 4 1.70
8. Through internet (social) networks 33 14.0
9. Through teaching staff at COE 0
Faculty
10. Not applicable, I have not searched
for employment
Table 6 presents the frequency

distribution of Civil Engineering graduates in terms of how they find their first job. Most of the

employed engineering graduates found their first job through job ads/announcements followed

by through the help of personal contacts of friends or fellow students. Other ways on how they

found their first job is through the help of family contacts of parents/relatives, side jobs, job fair,

internships, internet, through teaching staff at COE Faculty and those that have not searched for

employment obtained the least percentage.

Table 7. Frequency Distribution of Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Length of Search for The First Job

Length of search for current/present f %

Ran
job k
Immediately after graduation 64 27.10 2
Less than a year 150 63.60 1
1 year 11 4.70 3
2 years 3 1.30 5
2 years above 8 3.40 4
TOTAL 236 100
Table 7 shows that Civil Engineering graduates could be able to find a job immediately after

graduation (64 or 27.10%) period. The board examination for civil engineering hampers most of

the graduates (150 or 63.60%) to work immediately after graduation. It takes almost half a year

for them to prepare before they have given the chance to take the actual board examination being

facilitated by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Table 8. Frequency Distribution of Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Reason Why They Take Job Different

From the Course They Studied

Reasons (n=12) f %
Did not want job in course related area 2 14.2
9
Lack of career progression 3 21.4
3
Poor working conditions 1 7.14
Other Reasons 6 42.8
No Answer 2 5
14.2
9
Total 14 100

Table 8 shows the frequency distribution of the civil engineering graduates in terms of why they

take job different from the course they studied. Three (3) of the them answered that it’s because

of lack of career progression, two (2) graduates stated that they did not want job in course related

area while one (1) of them had poor working conditions.

Frequency Distribution of Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of Reason of Unemployment

Reason of Unemployment (n=5) f %

Searching for employment and not getting it 1 20
Discouraged because of not finding employment -
Will devote time for further study 1 20
Preparing to start own business 3 60
Total 5 100
Table 9 presents the frequency distribution of the engineering graduates in terms of reason of

unemployment. Three (3) of the unemployed graduates answered that they are preparing to start

own business. Some of the graduates already established their own construction firm. Only one

(1) unemployed graduate answered that he’s searching for employment and not getting it, and the

other one (1) wants to devote time for further study.

Figure 6. Frequency Distribution of Employed Civil Engineering Graduates

In Terms of their Monthly Earning on their Current Job

Present Monthly Income

50
53.4
60 25 25
50
40 24.2 19.1
30
20 3.4 Sel f-Empl oed
10 Empl oyed
0
00 00 00 ov
e
,0 ,0 ,0
P2
0
P3
0
P4
0 ab
to to to 00
,0
00 00 00 P4
0
5,0 0,0 0,0
P1 P2 P3
Empl oyed Sel f-Empl oed
Figure 6 presents the frequency distribution of employed civil engineering graduates in terms of

their monthly earning on their current job. It shows that 126 or 53.40% of the 236 respondent

earns P40,000.00 above salary every month, while 57 or 24.20% of them are receiving

P20,000.00 to less than P30,000, 45 or 19.10% in P30,000.00 to less than P40,000.00 and least

number of graduates are earning P15,000.00 to less than P20,000.00 with 3.40%. This figure also

shows the frequency distribution of self – employed civil engineering graduates in terms of their

monthly earnings on their current job. 4 out the 8 respondent or 50% of the graduates earn

P20,000.00 to less than P30,000.00, on the other hand P30,000.00 to less than P40,000.00 and

P40,000.00 above earning are both 25%. The study reveal that majority of the graduates are

already earning good income.

Figure 7. Frequency Distribution of the Employers

In Terms of the Company Category

Category of Company

5.56
Construction Estimating Firm

5.56
Des i gn Cons ul tancy Fi rm

88.89
General Contractor

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Category of Company
Figure 7 shows the frequency distribution of the employers in terms of the category of the

company. Of the 18 companies who responded to the survey, 16 or 88.89% were general

contractors while 1 or 5.56% of the companies are design consultancy firm and construction

estimating firm

Frequency Distribution of the Employers

In Terms of the Minimum Requirements for the

New Civil Engineering Graduates That They Will Hire

Minimum Requirements
Gender of the appl i ca nt 12.12

School where the appl i ca nt has gra duated 3.03

Must be a pas s er of CE Board Exam 33.33

Must pos s es s the s ki l l s requi red for the job 42.42

Must be wi l l i ng to be a s s i gned at s i te 3.03

Must have a good mora l cha ra cter 3.03

Must be knowl edgeabl e i n MS Office 3.03
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Mi ni mun Requi rements
Figure 8 shows the frequency distribution of the employers in terms of the minimum

requirements for the new civil engineering graduates that they will hire. 14 or 42.42% of the

employer responded that the applicant must possess the skills required for the job followed by 11

or 33.33% of them answered that the applicant must be a passer of CE Licensure Examination as

a maximum requirement while 4 or 12.12% of the companies required gender of the applicant

and 1 or 3.03% for the school where the applicant has graduated, must be willing to be assigned

at site, must have a good moral character, and must be knowledgeable in MS Office. The finding

reveals that it is advantageous for the graduates to have a job if he/she have the required skills for

the job and a passer of CE licensure examination.