Occupational Choice and Job Opportunities in Technology and Vocational Education: The Need for Informed Decision-Making by Students

Abstract

The study investigated the need for students of technology and vocational education to be adequately informed when making decision in occupational choice and job opportunities. The information required by students when making informed decision in occupational choice and job opportunities were self profile evaluation; information on available occupations and job opportunities; information on the recognizable risk in various occupations and job opportunities as well as socio-economic information. One hundred and twenty seven (127) NCE II (200 Level) students of Technical Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Nigeria constituted the study population. The study sample was sixty (60) students. The Arithmetic Mean was used to determine whether in the opinion of the students there was need for informed decision-making in occupational choice and job opportunity. The Median score was 2.50. The Chi-square(X2) statistical method was used to test whether there was a significant relationship between the opinion of the students on the need for informed decision –making, and occupational choice and job opportunity in technology and vocational education. The findings established that at probability level of 0.50, there was a significant relationship between students’ opinion on the need for informed decision-making and choice of occupation and job opportunities. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n1p453