A psychological description of the Swiss labor market from 1991 to 2014: Occupational interest types, gender, salary, and skill level
Ghetta, A., Hirschi, A., Herrmann, A., & Rossier, J. (2018). A Psychological Description of the Swiss Labor Market from 1991 to 2014: Occupational Interest Types, Gender, Salary, and Skill Level. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 77, 83-94. doi:10.1024/1421-0185/a000206
Abstract
This study aimed at conducting a representative analysis of the Swiss labor market from 1991 to 2014 by applying Holland’s (1997) classification of occupations according to six vocational interest types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional (RIASEC). Results based on data of the Swiss Labor Force Survey showed that realistic occupations consistently represented the largest share of jobs over this period, albeit with a declining tendency. Increased numbers of people were employed in social and enterprising types of work. The lowest numbers were found in artistic and investigative occupations. Gender segregation along the six RIASEC occupational types could be found on the Swiss labor market as well, with most men working in realistic, and most women in social, occupations. Further, we observed large salary differences between the six occupational types, even when controlling for required skill level. In line with findings concerning gender pay inequalities, men earned more than women in each RIASEC occupational type in each year. We moreover found that RIASEC occupations differed meaningfully with regard to skill level, and that required skill level increased across all RIASEC occupations over the examined 23-year period.
Keywords: Swiss labor market, occupational interest types, RIASEC, gender, salary, skill level
The relationships of vocational interest congruence, differentiation, and elevation to career preparedness among university students
Jaensch, V. K., Hirschi, A., & Spurk, D. (2016). Relationships of Vocational Interest Congruence, Differentiation, and Elevation to Career Preparedness Among University Students. Zeitschrift Fur Arbeits-Und Organisationspsychologie, 60(2), 79-89, doi: 10.1026/0932-4089/a000210.
Abstract
Vocational interest characteristics—interest congruence, interest differentiation, and general interest level elevation—are useful indicators for career development. (owever, research on these issues has primarily focused on adolescents in the transition from school to work and analyzed a limited set of career-related correlates. This study extends this line of research by exploring the relationships of interest congruence, interest differentiation, and interest elevation with several indicators of career preparedness i.e., career planning, occupational self-efficacy beliefs, career decidedness, and career engagement among a sample of emerging adults during their university studies in Germany. Data from students representing a wide range of majors were collected via an online questionnaire. Controlling for sociodemographic variables, multiple regression analyses revealed that differentiation was positively associated with career decidedness and career engagement and elevation was positively related to occupational self-efficacy beliefs and career engagement. We discuss the findings regarding the importance of differences in vocational interest characteristics for the career preparedness of university students.
Keywords: vocational interests, career preparedness, secondary construct
Relation of vocational identity statuses to interest structure among Swiss adolescents
Hirschi, A. (2011). Relation of vocational identity statuses to interest structure among Swiss adolescents. Journal of Career Development, 38(5). 390 - 407. doi:10.1177/0894845310378665
Abstract
Vocational identity is one core component of identity construction in adolescence. The current study investigated whether vocational interest structure in terms of differentiation, coherence, elevation, and interest–aspiration congruence would differentiate among students in vocational identity achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion. Swiss students at the beginning of eighth grade (N ¼ 341) participated in the study. Groups were created using cluster analysis based on the dimensions of career exploration and career commitment, and group differences were explored with discriminant analysis. Controlling for sociodemographic variables, higher interest differentiation and elevation distinguished students in achievement/moratorium from those in diffusion. More interest elevation differentiated moratorium from foreclosure.
Keywords: vocational identity, vocational interests, adolescence, career development
Vocational interests and career goals: Development and relations to personality in middle adolescence
Hirschi, A. (2010). Vocational interests and career goals: Development and relations to personality in middle adolescence. Journal of Career Assessment, 18(3), 223-238. doi: 10.1177/1069072710364789
Abstract
Cross-sectional research implies a close relation of vocation interests, goals, and traits, yet little is known about their reciprocal development over time. This longitudinal study examined develop ment of Things/People (T/P) and Data/Ideas (D/I) vocational interests and career goals in relation to Big Five personality traits among 292 Swiss adolescents with a cross-lagged panel design with two measurement points over 1 year from seventh to eighth grade. Interests and goals were significantly related within time and showed significant interactions across time. Traits related significantly and equally to interests and goals within time and predicted their development across time except for T/P goals. Goals and interests possessed incremental validity above traits in affecting each other. Implications include the need to account for dynamic processes in the development of goals and interests and their systematic relation to traits in theory and practice.
Keywords: vocational interests, career goals, career aspirations, personality, adolescent career development, developmental systems theory
Individual predictors of adolescents’ vocational interest stabilities
Hirschi, A. (2010). Individual predictors of adolescents’ vocational interest stabilities. International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance, 10(1), 5-19. doi:10.1007/s10775-009-9171-2
Abstract
The study investigated the predictive utility of interest profile differ entiation, coherence, elevation, congruence, and vocational identity commitment and career maturity (career planning and exploration) on the 10-month interest stability of 292 Swiss eighth-grade students: profile, rank, and level stabilities were assessed. Controlling for socio-demographic and vocational interest type variables, measures of differentiated and coherent vocational interests were significant pre dictors of profile stability. Interest elevation predicted more rank and level stability. The career development variables explained only a non-significant additional amount of variance in the different stability measures.
Development and criterion validity of differentiated and elevated interests in adolescence
Hirschi, A. (2009). Development and criterion validity of differentiated and elevated interests in adolescence. Journal of Career Assessment, 17(4), 384-401. doi: 10.1177/1069072709334237
Abstract
Interest differentiation and elevation are supposed to provide important information about a person’s state of interest development, yet little is known about their development and criterion validity. The present study explored these constructs among a group of Swiss adolescents. Study 1 applied a cross-sectional design with 210 students in 11th grade. Study 2 applied a 1-year longitudinal design with 289 students in 7th to 8th grade. Gender, personality traits, and career exploration were significant predictors of state and development of differentiation and elevation. Increase in differentiation predicted increase in career decidedness above traits. Elevation could not predict increase in exploration behavior over traits. The results provide support for differentiation and elevation as important aspects of adolescents’ vocational interests.
Keywords: interest development; interests assessment; adolescence career development
Eine typologische Analyse des Schweizerischen Lehrstellenmarktes: Strukturelle Benachteiligung von jungen Frauen
Hirschi, A. (2009). Eine typologische Analyse des Schweizerischen Lehrstellenmarktes: Strukturelle Benachteiligung von jungen Frauen [A typological analysis of the Swiss vocational educational market: structural disadvantage for female adolescents]. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Bildungswissenschaften, 31(2), 317-331.
Abstract
Empirische Studien zeigen, dass junge Frauen in der Schweiz mehr Mühe in der Lehrstellensuche bekunden als Männer. Die Studie überprüft die Hypothesen, dass dies auch in einem geringeren Angebot an Lehrberufen und Lehrstellen sowie ten denziell höheren schulischen Anforderungen in ihren typischen Interessensbereichen im Vergleich zu den typischen Interessensbereichen von Männern begründet ist. Dazu wird eine typologische Analyse des Schweizer Lehrstellenmarktes 2006 auf grund der RIASEC Typologie von Holland (1997) vorgenommen und in direkten Bezug zur gut fundierten beruflichen Interessenforschung gestellt. Beide Hypothesen wurden bestätigt. Implikationen für Theorie und Praxis werden beschrieben.
Using accuracy of self-estimated interest-type as a sign of career choice readiness in career assessment of secondary students
Hirschi, A., & Läge, D. (2008). Using accuracy of self-estimated interest-type as a sign of career choice readiness in career assessment of secondary students. Journal of Career Assessment, 16(3), 310-325. doi: 10.1177/1069072708317372
Abstract
A frequent applied method in career assessment to elicit clients’ self-concepts is asking them to predict their interest assessment results. Accuracy in estimating one’s interest-type is commonly taken as a sign of more self-awareness and career choice readiness. The study evaluated the empirical relation of accuracy of self-estimation to career choice readiness within a sample of 350 Swiss secondary students in seventh grade. Overall, accuracy showed only weak relations to career choice readiness. However, accurately estimating one’s first interest-type in a three-letter RIASEC interests-code emerged as a sign of more vocational identity and total career choice readiness. Accuracy also correlated positively with interest profile consistency, differentiation, and congruence to career aspirations. Implications of the results for career counseling and assessment practice are presented.
Keywords: interest assessment, self-estimation, career choice readiness, secondary students, career counseling, RIASEC typology
Holland’s secondary constructs of vocational interests and career choice readiness of secondary students
Hirschi, A., & Läge, D. (2007). Holland’s secondary constructs of vocational interests and career choice readiness of secondary students. Journal of Individual Differences, 28(4), 205-218. doi: 10.1027/1614-0001.28.4.205
Abstract
The study examined the relationship between the secondary constructs of Holland’s (1997) theory of vocational interests and career choice readiness [career maturity] attitudes with 358 Swiss secondary students. The hypothesis was tested that the secondary constructs consistency, coherence, differentiation, and congruence are measures for the degree of vocational interest development. Thus, they should belong to the content domain in career choice readiness and should show meaningful relations to career choice readiness attitudes. The hypothesis was confirmed for congruence, coherence, and differentiation. Interest profile consistency showed no relation to career choice readiness attitudes. Vocational identity emerged as a direct measure for career choice readiness attitudes. Realism of career aspirations was related to career choice readiness attitudes and coherence of career aspirations. Profile elevation was positively connected to more career planning and career exploration. Differences between gender, ethnicity, and school-types are presented. Implications for career counselling and assessment practice are discussed.
Keywords: vocational interests; career choice readiness; career maturity; RIASEC model; career counselling; interest assessment, career development