The Intersection of Vocational Interests with Employment and Course Enrolments

Abstract

This paper examines the relationships between interests and subject choice in senior secondary schooling, and between interests and occupational choices. Career interest results (N=7477) were obtained from the Career Interest Test (Version 3.1) administered on the Federal Government's My Future website ( http://www.myfuture.edu.au ) and were then compared with the nature of high school course enrolments and structure of employment. Work-related interests were fairly evenly spread across Outdoor, Practical, Scientific, Creative, Business, Office and People Contact activities. In contrast, employment in Australia was skewed towards Business and Practical activities (48.6%). On the other hand, Mathematics courses (20.1%) and Science (17.1%) dominated senior secondary school enrolments. It is possible that the interests and preferences of Australians are not satisfied either by the curriculum offered to them or by the work opportunities available.