Survey explores influences on youth workforce preparation

Madsen, E; Brosnahan, A; Valdez, I; Donohue, S; McAllister, T; Braverman, M; Madsen, E

Survey explores influences on youth workforce preparation

Authors

Ella-R. Madsen
Ann Brosnahan
Isela Valdez
Susan Donohue
Teresa McAllister
Marc T. Braverman
Ella R. Madsen

Authors Affiliations

E.R. Madsen is Research Associate, 4-H Center for Youth Development, Department of Human and Community Development, UC Davis; A. Brosnahan and I. Valdez are 4-H Youth Development Advisors, San Joaquin County and Sutter and Yuba counties, respectively; S. Donohue is Family and Consumer Science and Youth Development Advisor, Butte County; T. McAllister is retired 4-H Youth Development Advisor, Humboldt and Del Norte counties; M.T. Braverman is 4-H Youth Development Specialist, Department of Human and Community Development, UC Davis. The UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources provided funding for this study; E.R. Madsen is Research Associate, 4-H Center for Youth Development, Department of Human and Community Development, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 56(2):48-54. DOI:10.3733/ca.v056n02p48. March 2002.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

To develop programs and resources that help youth succeed in today's workplace, it is important to understand the various factors that influence their career exploration and decision-making process. A survey was conducted with 1,433 high school seniors in Northern California. Results indicate that the number of young people planning to seek education or training beyond high school continues to rise. There are distinct differences in the educational aspirations and expectations among different ethnic groups. The majority of students surveyed did not use school counseling services, and among those who did only a small percentage found them helpful. For most youth, parents are the primary source of help in preparing for further education and work. There is a strong positive relationship between academic achievement, and both participation in extracurricular activities and positive parent-child relations.

References

Bergman G, Killen M. Adolescents' and young adults' reasoning about career choice and the role of parental influence. J Res Adolescence. 1999. 9((3)):253-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327795jra0903_2

California Student Trends. Ed-Data, State Report. 2001. www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/state.

[CCAD] Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development. Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century. The Report of the Task Force on Education of Young Adolescents 1989. Carnegie Corp: NY.

Clark WA. Immigration, high fertility fuel state's population growth. Cal Ag. 2000. 54((1)):11-8.

Greenwald J. Where the jobs are. Time. 1997. June2054-61.

Harren VA. A model of career decision-making for college students. J Vocation Behav. 1979. 14:119-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(79)90065-4

Lambom SD, Mounts NS, Steinberg L, Dornbusch SM. Patterns of competence and adjustment among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful families. Child Dev. 1991. 62:1049-65. https://doi.org/10.2307/1131151

Rehberg HA, Westby DL. Parental encouragement, occupation, education and family size; Artifactual or independent determinants of adolescent educational expectations. Social Forces. 1967. 362-74. https://doi.org/10.2307/2575195

Santrock JW. Life-Span Development. 1995. Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark.

[SCANS] Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. What Work Requires of Schools: A SCANS Report for America 2000. 1991. Washington, DC: US Dept Labor.

SCANS. Skills and Tasks for Jobs: A SCANS Report for America 2000. 1992. Washington, DC: US Dept Labor.

Stevenson DL, Kochanek J, Schneider B., Borman K, Schneider B. Making the transition from high school: Recent trends and policies. The Adolescent Years: Social Influences and Educational Challenges; 97th Yearbook of National Society for Study of Education. 1998. Chicago: Univ Chicago Pr. p. 207-26.

Trice AD. A retrospective stuay of career development: I. Relationship among first aspirations, parental occupations and current occupations. Psych Rep. 1991. 68:287-90. https://doi.org/10.2466/PR0.68.1.287-290

Vondracek FW., Lerner RM. Promoting vocational development in early adolescence. Early Adolescence: Perspectives on Research, Policy and Intervention.. 1993. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. p. 277-93.

Also in this issue:

The Use of Computer-Assisted Mapping Techniques to Delineate Potential Areas of Salinity Development in soils: II. Field Verification of the Threshold Model Approach

The Use of Computer-Assisted Mapping Techniques to Delineate Potential Areas of Salinity Development in soils: I. A Conceptual Introduction

ANR helps youth prepare for world of work

Letters

Africanized bees discovered in central San Joaquin Valley

New wildlife center cleans oiled birds

4-H “national conversation” garners new ideas for youth development

National trends inform workforce research

Career awareness and part-time work examined in lives of high school seniors

California Conservation Corps offers youth career development opportunities

Teen financial literacy evaluated to develop outreach materials

Long-term studies find benefits, challenges in alternative rice straw management

Repeated soil applications of fungicide reduce activity against cavity spot in carrots