Journal of Career Development

The aim of this research was to explore demographic, familial, and attitudinal correlates of Taiwanese women’s employment status. Using data from a representative nationwide sample of female workers aged 21 and above (N = 1,047), the author found that (a) the employment rate of females decreased steadily with age, with no sign of reentry into the labor market in middle adulthood; (b) the more educated women had higher employment likelihood throughout the early and middle adulthood than their less educated counterparts, whereas this trend reversed after the age of 60; (c) multivariate analysis confirmed that age, education, personal health, and family income were significant predictors of female employment. In a fast changing society, more concerted research is needed to inform public policies and human resource practices to ameliorate the challenges faced by female workers, to promote social justice and female labor participation.

This study explores the relevance of the Kaleidoscope Career Model (KCM) to women’s later life career development. Qualitative interview data were gathered from 14 women in both the ‘‘truly’’ late career and bridge employment periods using a longitudinal design. The relevance of authenticity, balance, and challenge— central parameters in the KCM—is explored, along with the particular meanings associated with those parameters. Results demonstrate that all three parameters have relevance for older working women. In addition, as compared to studies of younger women, there were several unique meanings associated with the idea of authenticity. To a somewhat lesser extent, this was also the case with balance. The meanings of challenge were notably more consistent with those found in younger samples. Practical implications of considering the KCM parameters in reference to employee retention, combating stereotypes pertaining to age, and meeting older employees’ needs for fulfilling work are also described.

The current study explored the work values, career decidedness, and career choice comfort of 236 Latina/o incoming college students. Of a possible 13 work values, students placed more importance on work enjoyment, genuine interest in the field, and job security and less importance on family expectations, having free time, and working without close supervision. Latina students placed more importance on genuine interest in the field and using their career to make a difference, whereas Latino students placed more importance on high anticipated earnings and working without close supervision. Additionally, regression analyses revealed that 17% of the variance in the prediction of career decidedness was determined by self-clarity, indecisiveness, and career choice importance; these same variables were found to predict 41% of the variance in career choice comfort. Among these variables, Latina students were found to be more indecisive and to have lower career choice importance. Research and practice implications are suggested.

This article describes a model of children’s conceptions of two key career development processes: career choice and career attainment. The model of children’s understanding of career choice and attainment was constructed with developmental research and theory into children’s understanding of allied phenomena such as their understanding of illness, violence, and ethnicity. The proposed model articulates aspects of career development during childhood that have not been addressed in extant vocational models. Six levels of development of vocational reasoning are described, ranging from magical, association-based thinking to reasoning that involves the dynamic interaction of influences at the individual, relational, and systemic levels.