Premigratory disposition of high school graduates in four biggest cities in Croatia

Abstract

This paper analyses premigratory disposition among high school graduates in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek based on results of empirical research carried out in 2014. A representative sample of 1,830 students (844 male and 986 female) was made by using a probabilistic two-step cluster sampling model, stratified by the type of school and the city where the school is located. The data were processed using the statistical analytical program SPSS 20. The average age of respondents was 18.85, 54.6% attended vocational schools and 45.4% attended gymnasia. The research showed that almost half of the students intended to leave Croatia to continue their education or seek employment. A statistically significant difference was determined according to gender, type of school attended, and city of residence. Furthermore, a correlation between socioeconomic status, family completeness, and religiosity, among students with a lower premigratory disposition, was also determined.