Young people in transition: factors influencing the educational-vocational pathways of Australian school-leavers

Abstract

The educational achievements of a representative national sample of Australian school-leavers were examined after leaving school. The study was part of the longitudinal Youth in Transition study - a national probability sample of Australian youth. There was sufficient evidence to argue that the educational and occupational achievements were related to gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, geographical location (rurality), completion of the highest level of secondary schooling, vocational interests in high school and even levels of literacy and numeracy in primary school. A tentative model of educational-vocational achievement is outlined.