Factors Influencing Professional Selection Choices: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

This empirical study was conducted to identify the different factors that influence Pakistani student’s career choices. Five leading professions i.e. business and management sciences, medical, pharmacy, engineering, and agriculture were selected to identify the factors. A survey was conducted using a close-ended Likert scale type questionnaire on the sample of 523 students from the mentioned background. Multi-criteria decision analysis technique applies to rank the professions from best to worse one by using PROMETHEE. Further analysis was done using the Structured Equation Modeling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis technique. The results suggest that the medical profession is superior among other professions after that engineering profession was ranked 2, business administration ranked 3, pharmacy ranked 4 and the agriculture profession was ranked 5. Results also indicate that personal interest, self-esteem, and societal influence were major factors that significantly impact the career selection of business and management. For the medical profession, self-efficacy and self-esteem found to have a positive influence. For the pharmacy profession, growth opportunities, psychological factors, self-efficacy, and self-esteem have a significant influence. For the engineering profession psychological factor, self-efficacy and societal influence show positive affect. For the agriculture profession, self-esteem, psychological factor, and growth opportunities show favorable results. The findings will provide valuable information to policymakers and recruiters to keep in mind the factors that affect students when they associated with these professions.

Keywords: Profession Selection, Career Choices, Pakistan, Students, PROMETHEE, Self-esteem, SEM