Economic Factor
The concept of economic considerations pertains to the prevailing economic conditions within a
local economy, where individuals make decisions regarding their career paths (Meddour, Abdo,
Majid, Auf, & Aman, 2016). The country’s economic development is indeed correlated with
higher employment rates and enhanced purchasing power among its populace. As businesses
expand, they create additional job opportunities, thereby attracting students to these sectors.
Students perceive these fields as offering significant potential for personal and professional
growth, as well as stable income prospects.
Numerous individuals aspire to pursue careers that offer a solid foundation for an improved
standard of living (Cavus, Geri, & Turgunbayeva, 2015). A study conducted in South Africa,
characterized by distinct demographic and cultural dynamics, underscored the impact of
economic factors on students’ career decisions (Abrahams, Jano, & van Lill, 2015). Job security
and compensation packages are economic considerations that attract individuals to careers, with
findings indicating a positive correlation between these factors and job satisfaction.
Research conducted across various countries and cultures has shown that the relationships among
selected study variables may vary significantly. For instance, in Kenya, personality types and
interests in subjects have been identified as influential factors affecting students’ career choices.
Conversely, a similar study conducted in South Africa, characterized by distinct demographic
and cultural contexts, revealed that financial factors play a significant role in shaping students’
career decisions (Fatima Abrahams et al., 2015).
Social Factor
People prefer careers that provide a solid foundation for a higher level of living (Cavus, Geri,
and Turgunbayeva, 2015). Qiu et al. (2017) discovered that hotel management students in
Guangzhou, China, primarily exercised autonomy in choosing career options. In addition, strong
parental support influenced students’ profession choices.
The academic and social environments serve as key environmental factors influencing students’
career choices. Research indicates that students’ decisions to enter the hospitality industry can be
shaped by their familial relationships and interactions with parents. The physical and social
environment established by an educational institution plays a crucial role in influencing students’
decisions to continue their academic careers (Hanson, Paulsen & Pascarella, 2016; Loes &
Pascarella, 2015). Effective teaching practices are paramount in keeping students engaged and
committed to their academic pursuits, thereby contributing to their success (Hanson, Paulsen &
Pascarella, 2016; Loes & Pascarella, 2015). Moreover, student empowerment facilitated by
school teachers emerges as a significant determinant in students’ career choices, with teachers’
guidance often proving more influential than that of career counselors (Edwards & Quinter,
2011; Barley, Bechky and Milliken, 2017). Stephens, Brannon, Markus, and Nelson (2015)
advocate for the role of district authorities in equipping rural schools with the necessary
resources to support students in achieving their educational goals.
Research findings indicate that discrimination within certain professions can pose barriers for
students when selecting career paths (Ahmed et al., 2017; Chen & Fouad, 2013; Raque-Bogdan
et al., 2013). Strong enforcement of religious beliefs within cultures, coupled with familial
influence, emerges as a significant factor shaping career choices (Johnstone, 2015). These trends
are perceived as potential threats to secularism and state ideals (Adams & Joshi, 2016), as
exemplified by instances where children are compelled to prioritize religious education over
formal professional training in countries like Pakistan. Consequently, personal identity often
becomes intertwined with religious rather than professional contexts. In conclusion, various
factors, including family background, socioeconomic status, peer influence, and market trends,
influence students’ career decisions (Abbasi & Sarwat, 2014; Ahmed et al., 2017; Gil-Flores et
al., 2011; Humayon et al., 2012). These factors are further explored within the Pakistani context
in the present study.
Psychological Factor
A career serves as a blueprint for an individual’s professional journey throughout their life (Latif,
Aziz, & Ahmed, 2016). Personal interest refers to students’ preferences for their chosen
professions (Liaw, Wu, Lopez, Chow, Lim, Holroyd, & Wang, 2017). Personal factors are
defined as elements specific to the individual student, encompassing variables such as age,
gender, marital status, academic standing, proficiency, and disposition. Research conducted
across various sectors, including the hospitality industry, has identified distinct personal factors
among students and suggested potential correlations between these factors and career selection.
According to certain studies, personal qualities influence profession choices. In their study of
adult vocational decision-making, career satisfaction, and future plans, Zopiatis et al. (2016)
identified job-person fit as an important predictor of students’ intention to stay in the business.
Similarly, Wen et al. (2018) found that industry-person congruence was a significant influencer
of Chinese students’ job decisions. In Ghana, Neequaye and Amoo (2014) discovered that having
personality qualities appropriate to occupations in the industry was a predictor of students
choosing hospitality jobs.
Personal interests are acquired through parental guidance, formal education, peer interactions,
and life experiences. These interests serve as crucial motivators, driving individuals to pursue
activities aligned with their preferences. Strong and compelling interests provide the impetus for
wholehearted engagement. Research conducted across diverse countries and cultures has yielded
varied findings. For instance, personality types and interests have been identified as influential
factors affecting career decisions among students in Kenya (Ahmed et al., 2017).
The data found that personal interest had a greater influence on career choices in the hospitality
business than gender. According to Aizan et al. (2020), Islam prohibits women from serving
alcoholic beverages, and the late-night shift discourages women from working in the hospitality
and tourism businesses.
Rebecca J. et al. (2016) investigated the impact of lack of fit on career dissatisfaction and stress
among 399 students in Kenya. The study revealed a correlation between personality types and
career choices. Findings indicated that students who were satisfied with their chosen courses
before university entry experienced greater satisfaction and success in their studies and future
employment. Conversely, changes in course selection suggested misalignment between chosen
subjects and future career paths.
Reference:
Latif, M. A., Aziz, M. A., & Ahmed, M. M. (2016). Influences of education on career choice: A
study on Sylhet City, Bangladesh. Management Studies and Economic Systems, 2(3), 211–217.
Liaw, S. Y., Wu, L. T., Lopez, V., Chow, Y. L., Lim, S., Holroyd, E., & Wang, W. (2017).
Development and psychometric testing of an instrument to compare career choice influences and
perceptions of nursing among healthcare students. BMC medical education, 17(1), 72–81
Ahmed, K. A., Sharif, N., & Ahmad, N. (2017). Factors influencing students’ career choices:
empirical evidence from business students. Journal of Southeast Asian Research, 1–15.
Meddour, H., Abdo, A. A., Majid, A. H., Auf, M. A., & Aman, A. M. (2016). Factors Affecting
Career Choice among Undergraduate Students in Universitas Indonesia. International Journal of
Economic Perspectives, 10(4), 630–644.
Cavus, S., Geri, S., & Turgunbayeva, K. (2015). Factors affecting the career plans of university
students after graduation. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 5(5), 94–99.
Abrahams, F., Jano, R., & van Lill, B. (2015). Factors influencing the career choice of
undergraduate students at a historically disadvantaged South African university. Industry and
Higher Education, 29(3), 209–219.
Avus, Geri and Turgunbayeva; 2015 ‘Factors Affecting the Career Plans of University Students
after Graduation’, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol. 5, No. 5.
Qiu, S., Dooley, L., & Palker, T. (2017). What factors influence the career choice of hotel
management major students in Guangzhou Independent Journal of Management & Production,
8(3), 1092-1115. https://doi.org/10.14807/ ijmp.v8i3.618
