A Comparative Analysis of Job Motivation and Career Preference of Asian Undergraduate Students

Abstract

This article examines how various job motivators and perception toward public service affect university students’ tendencies to choose public sector jobs in a comparative context. We address this question using survey data collected from undergraduate students in China, Singapore, and Korea. The findings indicate that a positive association exists between motivation to benefit society and public sector job preference among Singaporean and Korean students, although such a relationship does not exist among Chinese students. Job security and salary are commonly important motivators for students who prefer either public or private sector jobs. Finally, the divergent characteristics of students’ career goals serve to emphasize the importance of comparative studies in identifying context-specific and context-general factors that motivate students toward public service careers.