Factors influencing career choices of senior high school students: a review of literature from 2018 to 2025
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Key Factors Influencing Career Choices of Senior High School Students (2018–2025)
Personal Interests, Preferences, and Self-Efficacy
Personal interests and preferences are consistently identified as major factors in students’ career choices. Many students prioritize their own ambitions, passions, and self-concept when selecting a career path, often balancing these with practical considerations such as job security and future opportunities Nazareno2021J2024Dr2020. Additionally, students’ self-efficacy—confidence in their ability to achieve career goals—plays a significant role, with higher self-efficacy linked to more decisive and goal-oriented career planning .
Family and Parental Influence
Parental influence is a strong and recurring theme across studies. Parents’ expectations, educational background, occupation, and socio-economic status all moderately to strongly affect students’ career decisions Nazareno2021Ciolo2025Regulacion2022+2 MORE. Family perspectives, including the desire to help or support the family in the future, are also important motivators for students Regulacion2022J2024. In some contexts, parental approval is valued as much as peer approval when making career decisions .
Academic Performance and School Track
Academic performance, especially in core subjects like Math, Science, English, and Filipino, is moderately associated with students’ career track choices . The specific senior high school strand or track a student is enrolled in also significantly correlates with their career preferences and self-efficacy, shaping their readiness and confidence for future career paths Nazareno2021Gimarino2024.
Peer and Teacher Influence
Peers and teachers also play a role, though often secondary to family. Peer approval can influence career decisions, and teachers, especially in science and engineering fields, can be particularly influential for students considering these paths Ciolo2025Regulacion2022Dick1991. Teacher encouragement is especially important for underrepresented groups, such as women in STEM fields .
Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors
Socio-economic status, including family income and parents’ occupation, has a moderate impact on career choices Nazareno2021J2024Obiunu2020. Gender differences are observed, with some studies noting that pay is a more important factor for male students, while genuine interest is more important for female students not pursuing STEM careers . However, age and gender do not always significantly impact career preferences or self-efficacy Gimarino2024Obiunu2020.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivators
Intrinsic motivators, such as personal satisfaction and ambition, are often more predictive of career choice than extrinsic motivators like financial rewards or social status . However, external factors such as compensation, job availability, and job security are still considered, especially when students weigh their personal interests against economic realities Regulacion2022J2024Dr2020.
Role of Career Guidance and Counseling
Limited access to career guidance and counseling is a challenge for many students, leading to uncertainty and pressure in making career decisions . Studies recommend the introduction and strengthening of career education and guidance programs at earlier educational stages to help students make informed choices Avugla2014Dr2020. Comprehensive guidance can help students navigate both their aspirations and practical challenges Ciolo2025J2024.
Conclusion
The career choices of senior high school students are shaped by a complex interplay of personal interests, family and peer influence, academic performance, socio-economic background, and the availability of career guidance. While intrinsic factors like self-efficacy and ambition are strong predictors, external factors such as family expectations and financial considerations also play significant roles. Effective career guidance and support systems are essential to help students make informed and satisfying career decisions.
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