Social Class Influences Danish Students’ Career Paths

A new Danish study reveals that young students select career paths based on their parents’ background.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, young students from working class families usually go after jobs in the fields of pharmacy or business. The study suggests this is because careers in the aforementioned fields have “clear job” profiles and high incomes. Students from working class backgrounds also choose careers that are 9 to 5. The study reveals that even though some of these students might have good grades, they have less academic expectations of themselves and select studies with a “clearly defined goal for their professional lives.”

Young students of parents with higher education, on the other hand, are more likely to select studies based on prestige. For these students, studies that have a “strong sense of professional identity are important.” According to the study, these students are drawn to a life in which they are a student 24/7 as opposed to 9 to 5.

The study also shows that financial freedom doesn’t override the influence of the social background. For example, Danish students on welfare do not have to pay for tuition, yet they still pursue jobs in business or pharmacy, ones that are almost guaranteed to bring in money.

Read more: http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2013/2013.9/young-people-choose-education-based-on-parents-background/