Is there a wage penalty associated with a degree of indecision in career aspirations?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v8i3.470

Abstract

In this longitudinal study, we test whether varying degrees of indecision about future career choices at age 16 have long-term economic consequences in adulthood, taking into account potential gender differences. Findings from a British cohort born in 1970 indicate that young people who were completely undecided about job choices did experience a wage penalty at age 34 compared to young people who were certain about their job aspirations. This association was significant even after controlling for family socioeconomic status, parental expectations and academic ability at age 16.  However, the wage penalty was mediated by educational attainment and part-time employment at age 34.  Not being entirely certain about one’s future profession by age 16 seems to be part of a career decision making process which does not necessarily incur a wage penalty for most young people, especially if it involves the acquisition of education qualifications.

Author Biography

Leslie Morrison Gutman, University College London

Programme Director and Senior Lecturer of the MSc Behaviour Change

UCL Centre for Behaviour Change

Downloads

Published

2017-07-25