How perception, gender, parental occupations and role models shape Gippsland secondary school students' agriculture career choices

This article explores the factors influencing Gippsland secondary school students’ career aspirations in agriculture, examining the role of perceptions of agriculture and agricultural careers, gender, parental occupation, and career role models. Utilising data from the Raising Aspirations and Careers Education in Agriculture Gippsland (RACE Gippsland) project, survey responses from 495 high school students were analysed using chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank-order correlations. Positive perceptions of agriculture significantly correlated with career interest, for both males and females. Gender and parental occupation in agriculture had no significant influence on students’ career choices and the presence of a career role model within the agricultural sector was a strong predictor of career interest. The research underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve agricultural literacy, enhance career exposure, and encourage student engagement in agricultural careers. It provides valuable insights into understanding the agricultural career aspirations of secondary school students. This research analyses factors impacting career aspirations of secondary school students within the agricultural sector, which is rare in the literature.