I have also found that the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a very useful source of information. The information on their website gives students an non-biased view of employment trends.
At my institution, placement numbers are a reflection of what's being submitted to the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. By providing what we submit to the ACCSC, I believe it helps the student(s) have a better understanding of our overall placement.
We present this information at the time of orientation. Ours is based on a survey of graduates which can lack information due to non responses.
How does your college collect their placement numbers?
We do this during the interview process and/or during the actual enrollment process. Either way this information is brought to the students attention while they are enrolling.
As an agent of the school I represent, I have found it to be effective during the visit with the students as we discuss forecasting by U.S. Dept. of Labor and their most recent statistics.
We do this durong the interview process when we are talking about Career Services. This seems to be very effective and well timed for us.
