Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
The educational prerequisites many occupations require youth to focus on a career goal at a relatively early age and, since many occupations require long periods of preceptorship or apprenticeship, an occupational decision is often irreversible without serious consequences. Because a large part of a youth's future happiness is predicated upon job satisfaction, it is essential that his occupational choice and entry into an occupation be as suitable as possible. Every society must somehow develop its human resources, in quantity and quality, so that its needs are satisfied. Whimsical occupational decisions can result in maldistribution of persons, with consequent failure to meet the needs of either the individual or society. In attempting to provide for effective distribution of resources, society influences youths' choices in a number of ways. Many economists, psychologists, and sociologists have attempted to study these influences, and their investigations have led to the formulation of various theories about vocational choices.
Kohout et al. (Wed,) studied this question.