Career education that works: an economic analysis using the British Cohort Study

Elnaz Kashefpakdel & Christian Percy, Education and Employers, Journal of Education and Work – 2016

Many scholars and policy-makers believe that changes in the education system and labour market over recent decades have created a complex world for young people; and that this can partly be addressed by enhanced career education while individuals are at school.

This paper draws on the British Cohort Study 1970 to investigate the link between career talks by external speakers and employment outcomes, and finds some evidence that young people who participated in more career talks at age 14–16 enjoyed a wage premium 10 years later at age 26.

The correlation is statistically significant on average across all students who receive talks at age 14–15; but remains the case for 15–16-year olds only if they also described the talks as very helpful.

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