Addressing gendered career decision-making: adapting career guidance and counselling practice to the contemporary family structure

Research into the career decision-making processes of young people in gender atypical occupations can inform practitioners how we can adapt and develop our practice to ensure inclusivity. Simultaneously, to ensure continued applicability, career development theory requires continuous review and adaptation in practice to meet the needs of individuals in society. In this study, these two themes combine to address why some vocational routes remain ‘out of bounds’ to young people for social and cultural reasons. The poster presents a major study of young people’s career decision-making processes, undertaken as part of a project examining how gendered career decision making affects entry routes to the contemporary labour market. Using the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship programme as a data source, the research considers both the decision maker and the individuals that influence people’s career decisions, with a specific focus on the modern family structure. The study relates to equality and inclusion agendas in education, vocational training, further and higher education and employment and the related issues of the economic impact of skills (under-) utilisation and social inclusion. The conclusions will offer career guidance and counselling practitioners new approaches to improving gender inclusivity in their practice.