Relationship Between Agricultural Education Experience and Adolescents’ Career Aspirations in Agriculture: A Systematic Review

Agricultural education is important for preparing adolescents for careers in agriculture; however, the literature examining the relationship between agricultural education of youth and their choosing careers in agriculture has not been synthesized. This systematic literature review examined whether agricultural education is associated with adolescents’ career aspirations in agriculture and, if so, which programmatic factors were associated with adolescents’ willingness to pursue careers in agriculture. The review presents a summary of 20 empirical studies—journal articles, theses and dissertations published from 1986 to 2024. Results found that agricultural education is associated with positive career aspirations among adolescents. The association was examined through five major agricultural career indicators: agricultural career interest and motivation to pursue careers in agriculture, knowledge and awareness of careers in agriculture, perceptions of and attitudes toward careers in agriculture, choice of college major or careers, and perceived benefits of and barriers to a career in agriculture. Agricultural education programs promoted the agricultural career aspirations of adolescents, inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary agricultural curriculum, and agricultural technologies were programmatic factors positively associated with adolescents’ career aspirations. Based on findings, it is suggested to strengthen agricultural education, upgrade the agricultural curriculum through integration of agricultural technologies, work-based learning, internships, supervised experiences, inquiry and authentic projects, as all play an important role in promoting agricultural careers among adolescents.