Barriers to Employment: Personality and Cognitive Predictors of Employment Status

Abstract

Barriers to employment are linked to individual factors such as thinking styles and personality traits. Personality and cognitive differences between employed ( n = 55) and unemployed ( n = 57) cohorts were analysed to quantify the association between these variables and employment status. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Thinking Styles Inventory, three hypothesised relationships were examined in terms of identifying predictors of employment status. Personality temperament was found to be a significant predictor (particularly Sensing Perceiving style: SP), and thinking type also accounted for variance in employment status. These findings may help direct training strategies adopted by employment agencies in assisting people who are unemployed, collaboratively targeting positive job access outcomes through their consultative partnerships.