Framing ‘Choices’: a longitudinal study of occupational aspirations among 13‐ to 16‐year‐olds

Abstract The ‘framing’ of occupational aspirations and expectations are examined through a longitudinal study of 13‐ to 16‐year‐olds. The relative impact of gender, social class and area on the development of occupational aspirations and expectations is assessed, together with an examination of levels of stability between the ages of 13 and 16. While males and females tend to aspire to very gender‐specific occupations, ideas about the suitability of occupations are formed at a relatively early age and overall levels of change are quite small. Bivariate analysis highlights the impact of gender, area, social class and academic attainment on occupational aspirations. Multiple regression is used to assess the relative impact of factors associated with variation in status levels of occupational aspirations: after controlling for expected academic attainments, other factors were found not to have a significant impact on occupational aspirations. These findings suggest that the impact of area and social class operate via depressed academic attainments and that efforts to broaden the occupational horizons of young people need to begin prior to entry into the secondary school.