The Influence of Career Preparation on Students’ Views of Their Ability to Find Meaningful Work

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding Labor, Social Mobility, and Opportunity Outcomes in Higher Education (Table 29)

Abstract

With rising costs of higher education and a focus on skills-based hiring, some policymakers, students, and employers have questioned the value of higher education and the return on investment for students. Confidence in the value of a college education appears to be dropping. Because career preparation is intended to directly help improve students’ job prospects, the levels of career preparation should influence student employment outcomes, which could in turn influence how students’ view the value of their college degree. The purpose of this paper is to begin giving shape the relationship between students’ career preparation and their views on the value of their college degree.

Authors

• Joshua D. Kahn, National Association of Colleges and Employers

• Mabel Sabogal, National Association of Colleges and Employers