12/01/2003

The Education, Social, and Economic Value of Informed and Considered Career Decisions

by Bridget Brown

Earlier this summer, America's Career Resource Network Association (ACRNA) commissioned a paper that synthesized the existing research on the effectiveness of career information and comprehensive career counseling. I am pleased to announce that "The Education, Social, and Economic Value of Informed and Considered Career Decisions" has been completed. (Click here for the ACRNA Executive Summary ).

The study found that quality career information and comprehensive career counseling provides educational, social and economic benefits such as:

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

* Improved educational achievement

 

* Improved preparation and participation in postsecondary education

 

* Better articulation among levels of education

 

* Higher graduation and retention rates

SOCIAL BENEFITS

* Higher levels of worker satisfaction and career retention

 

* Shorter path to primary labor market for young workers

 

* Lower incidence of work-related stress and depression

 

* Reduced likelihood of work-related violence

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

* Lower rates and shorter periods of unemployment

 

* Lower costs of worker turnover

 

* Lower incarceration and criminal justice costs

 

* Increased worker productivity

 

America's Career Resource Network (ACRN ) directly support these efforts. ACRN is the Department of Education's implementation of Section 118 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 Reauthorization(P.L. 105-332). ACRN provides critical education and career development information and resources to assist youth and adults in making informed career decisions for the purpose of identifying postsecondary education opportunities, securing meaningful employment, and making successful life choices.

The full report can be found on our website. I hope that you find this research useful and informative. If you have questions about the paper, specific ideas about the best ways to use this research, or additional areas that we should consider in our next research effort, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Bridget Brown
bridget@nawdp.org