Career awareness and perceived employability of BS Psychology students in a private higher education institution

Abstract

This descriptive-correlational study examined the perceived employability and career awareness of 231 Bachelor of Science in Psychology students at a private university in Iloilo City, Philippines. It investigated the relationship between career awareness and perceived employability, as well as whether these levels differ depending on the highest level of education attained by their parents. The Career Awareness Scale (CAS) and the Self-Perceived Employability Scale (SPES) were used to gather data. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage), one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Pearson's r correlation coefficient were used for analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents' parents were college graduates. Overall, the BS Psychology students exhibited a "high level" of both career awareness (M=3.85, SD=.505) and perceived employability (M=3.63, SD=.462). While contrary to some prior research, the one-way ANOVA from this study indicated no statistically significant differences in students' career awareness (Mother's Education: F=1.508, p=.213; Father's Education: F=1.055, p=.369) or perceived employability (Mother's Education: F=0.190, p=.903; Father's Education: F=0.332, p=.802) when grouped according to their parents' highest educational attainment. However, a statistically significant moderate positive correlation (r=.486, p=.000) was found between the students' career awareness and their perceived employability, suggesting that higher awareness of career-related information is associated with greater confidence in securing employment. The study concludes that while BS Psychology students in this institution possess high levels of career awareness and perceived employability, these are not significantly influenced by their parents' educational attainment. The significant positive relationship between career awareness and perceived employability emphasizes the importance of fostering career awareness to enhance students' perceived employability, aligning with the Social Cognitive Career Theory. It is recommended for higher education institutions, faculty, guidance counselors, students, and future researchers to continue supporting student career development and explore other influencing factors.