Influences on career choice: Considerations for the environmental profession

ABSTRACT There have been strong indications of growing demand for environmental professionals. Indications are that there may not be a sufficient number of suitably qualified people for the future environment and sustainability profession. Understanding what influences people about their future careers could assist to attract people to the environmental profession. Literature and research on the topic of career choice indicates that a range of influences may be important, including an individual’s demographic and social situation, and their parents, teachers/professors, and work experiences. Additional influences are information about profession/career, representations of professions on television, individual values about economic security/status, and their interest in social and/or environmental enhancement. Doing good for society or the environment has been associated with those interested in the environmental profession, and a small pilot survey of Australian undergraduate students highlighted “doing good” as the most important influence on their career decisions. These findings provide directions for how the environmental profession, and higher education programs, could be represented.