The Occupations of Non-College Youth

Abstract

The world of work is placing increasing premium upon advanced levels of education and specialized types of training. Yet, 75-80 percent of American youth are not completing college degrees. What is the occupational destiny of youth with differing levels of education? For what part of the occupational world is attainment dependent upon education beyond high school? What are the characteristics of youth who reach differing levels of occupational attainment? In the spring of 1957, a state-wide inquiry gathered information from over 35,000 graduating seniors of Wisconsin's public and private high schools. About 95 percent of all graduates from about 95 percent of Wisconsin's high schools participated. This information included statements about educational plans beyond high school, statements of occupational aspirations, and much background data about the graduates, their parents, and their school experiences (Little, 1958). During the calendar years 1964 and early 1965, follow-up inquiries were directed to the parents of a probability sample of about one-third of the male youth of this 1957 crop of graduates. Usable returns were received from 85 percent of the sample. Of the 4,186 graduates about whom information was received, 378 were attending a vocational school or college; 447 were in military service; and 58 were unemployed. The total number for whom occupational attainment scores were available was then 3,378.