Vocational-education graduates in Baltimore have a harder time finding permanent jobs in their fields than graduates in the surrounding counties, according to a report published by the city’s placement service.
The report estimates that only 573 out of 2,500--or approximately 23 percent--of the city’s 1981 vocational-education students were able to find jobs in the fields in which they were trained.
In surrounding counties, however, where more complete records are kept, the picture is brighter. According to county officials, 63 to 73 percent of the students are able to find jobs in their fields of training.
Officials blame the disparity on reductions in the guidance staff and caution that placement figures for the city of Baltimore are incomplete and “the number will increase” when the survey is finished in October. But figures “still will not reach that number given by the counties,” said Lloyd Alston, assistant superintendent for vocational education.
“There are additional placement personnel on hand in the county structure,” Mr. Alston explained. Our placement staff has been significantly reduced” from 60 counselors in previous years to 10 this year.--ab
