Pathways to Success: Determinants of Employment Outcomes for Medical Laboratory Science Graduates of LORMA Colleges

Abstract

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) graduates faced various factors that significantly influenced their employability, including internship experiences, technical competencies, personal attributes, and institutional support. Previous graduate tracer studies provided insights into employment trends but had limitations, including low response rates and a lack of focus on key employability factors. This study aimed to address those gaps by examining the employment outcomes of MLS graduates between 2021 and 2024, with a focus on identifying these key factors and assessing their impact on employability. Utilizing a convergent mixed-method design, a total of 146 graduates participated in a structured online survey using stratified sampling, which revealed a 99.32% employment rate, with 98.63% securing positions directly related to MLS, and 91.74% of the respondents are employed as medical technologists. Furthermore, 83.56% of graduates obtained employment within three months of completing their program. The perceived level of employability was most influenced by the quality of training, while personal traits and soft skills, classified under personal attributes, were key contributors to employability. Internship experiences, on the other hand, significantly influenced actual employment outcomes. Graduates emphasized the value of hands-on training, clinical exposure, and well-equipped laboratories. Findings underscored the critical role of experiential learning and institutional support in enhancing employability in the healthcare sector.