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Poster #152 - A Career in…: Influence of Parents, Schools, and Youth Programs on Youth’s Interests

Thu, March 21, 9:30 to 10:45am, Baltimore Convention Center, Floor: Level 1, Exhibit Hall B

Integrative Statement

As youth get older they are faced with major decisions that have implications for their future well-being, stability, and earnings. One of these decisions involves choosing a career. In the early years of development youth’s ideal careers are based on popularity and what seems to be fun. As development progresses so does one’s ability to think more critically and realistically about career opportunities; however, research suggests that youth rely on supportive others to help them (Ferry, 2006; Oymak, 2018). A key goal of the current study was to examine whether contextual factors influence youth’s career choices. More specifically, this study focused on whether parents, schools, and youth-serving organizations inform youth’s career choices in agricultural-related fields, including areas of STEM and education. More research is needed in this area because opportunities in agricultural-related fields are expected to increase and already, thousands of jobs go unfilled each year (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2015).

Participants for this study were recruited from three youth-serving programs and community colleges in California. Surveys were administered online. Each person was sent an email with a link to respond to the survey. Participants were asked to report on their experiences in youth programs, family and school experiences, perceptions of agricultural-related careers, knowledge of and exposure to careers, and demographic background. The dependent variable was career goals. Participants were asked whether they plan to have a career in an agricultural-related field. Data were collected from 398 participants. The mean age of the sample was 16.02.

Separate regression analyses were run for each contextual factor to examine its influence on youth’s career goals. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in plans to have an agricultural-related career by race, community in which participants live, and parent education. As expected, age and having participated in youth programs significantly predicted plans for an agricultural-related career. Controlling for demographic background, knowledge of and exposure to agricultural-related careers and education pathways predicted planning for an agricultural-related career. The number of careers participants indicated as having been exposed to via youth programs was also positively associated with planning for an agricultural-related career. School enrollment significantly influenced whether participants planned to have an agricultural-related career, with high school participants being less likely to report planning to have an agricultural-related career than participants in a community college. Parents also had a significant influence on youth’s career choice. Parents were also the strongest predictor of participant’s career goals. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the frequency with which participants talked to their families about careers in agricultural-related fields as well as parent’s feelings about such careers and their general expectations about opportunities they want in their children’s careers predicted agricultural-related career plans. Other contextual factors were no longer significant.

In conclusion, this study highlights the role of parents in helping their children to understand and begin thinking about their career options. Family conversations about youth’s future is a vital part of this process.

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