Parents of secondary school students also are most likely to think that these aspects
are most important to their teens. However, they are more likely to think that hav-
ing a meaningful job is important (45% vs. 30%) and less likely to think that having
a job that allows time for personal or family activities (24% vs. 44%) and having a job
where you can have fun at work (30% vs. 35%) is important.
From teachers' perspectives, most students (84%) consider having a job where
they can earn lots of money as one of the two most important aspects of the job they
will have, yet fewer than half of the students (47%) mention this characteristic.
Teachers are next most likely to mention having a job where they can have fun at work
(33%). Overall, teachers are more likely to think that students most value earning
lots of money and having fun at work.
Exhibit 9.3
Most Important Aspects of Jobs
Q440 Thinking about the job you want to have after you finish your education, what TWO
things are MOST important to you?
Q540 Which of the following do you think your child considers to be the TWO most impor-
tant aspects of the job (he/she) will have after (he/she) finishes (his/her) education?
Q525 Which of the following do your students consider to be the TWO most important aspects
of the job after they finish their education?
Base: All students
Base: Secondary school parents
Base: All teachers
Total
Total Total
Students
Parents
Teachers
Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3961 . . . . . .855 . . . . . .1010
%
%
%
Having a job that allows time for personal
or family activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 . . . . . . .24 . . . . . . . .17
Having a job that makes a contribution
to society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 . . . . . . . .15 . . . . . . . .5
Having a job where I (he/she) can earn
lots of money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 . . . . . . .44 . . . . . . . .84
Having a job that is meaningful to
me (him/her) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 . . . . . . .45 . . . . . . . .27
Having a job that is secure, so I don't (he/she
doesn't) have to worry about losing it . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . .11 . . . . . . . .17
Having a job with good benefits, like
health insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 . . . . . . .17 . . . . . . . .12
Having a job where I (he/she) can have
fun at work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 . . . . . . .30 . . . . . . . .33
Something else . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . .3 . . . . . . . . .2
I do not plan to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .* . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . .-
No answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . .-
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . .*
90
