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Journal of Career Assessment
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Career Aspirations and Expectations of College Students

Demographic and Labor Market Comparisons

A.J. Metz

University of Utah

Nadya Fouad

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Kris Ihle-Helledy

Hyde-Lichter Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Replicating previous research, this study examined differences in 677 diverse college students' career aspirations and expectations based on gender and ethnicity, and compared their career expectations to the U.S. workforce. This study extended the literature base by exploring discrepancies between occupational aspirations and expectations (aspiration—expectation discrepancy) in terms of Holland code congruence and complexity. Further, this study investigated how perceptions of career barriers, career decision self-efficacy, and differential status identity may be related to the aspiration—expectation discrepancy. Results revealed significant ethnic and gender differences in career aspirations and expectations. Furthermore, the careers college students expected to pursue were not entirely aligned with the current labor market. Discrepancies existed between the careers students aspired to and expected to pursue. Finally, our findings revealed that career barriers, career decision self-efficacy, and differential status identity are three factors that may be related to the aspiration—expectation discrepancy, which warrants more research.

Key Words: career aspirations • career expectations • career barriers • career decision self-efficacy • differential status identity

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Journal of Career Assessment, Vol. 17, No. 2, 155-171 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1069072708328862
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