Career orientation, employability, and employment quality of higher vocational students: evidence from Zhejiang province, China

Purpose Employment quality is closely associated with job satisfaction and life quality, and plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth, enhancing social well-being, and achieving social equity. This study aims to examine the relationships among career orientation, employability, and employment quality. Design/methodology/approach Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, this study collected data from higher vocational students in Zhejiang Province and employed regression analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The findings indicate that both career orientation and employability have a significant positive impact on employment quality, and the interaction between the two also has a significant positive impact on employment quality. Originality/value This study enriches the application of Conservation of Resources theory in the context of vocational education, and provides practical implications for educational reform, career guidance, and policy formulation.