The Influence of Career Guidance and Labor Market Information on the Career Development Skills of Grade 12 Students

Abstract

This study is anchored in the growing emphasis on enhancing career readiness among senior high school students through systematic school-based interventions and access to relevant labor market resources. Specifically, it aimed to examine the influence of exposure to and access to the Career Guidance Program (CGP) and Labor Market Information (LMI) on the Career Development Skills (CDS) of Grade 12 students at Mlang National High School.
A descriptive-correlational research design was utilized to determine the relationships and predictive value of the identified variables. The study involved 216 respondents selected through stratified random sampling to ensure proportional representation across student groups. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire that measured levels of CGP exposure, LMI access, and career development skills. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics to determine variable levels, Pearson product-moment correlation to assess relationships, and multiple linear regression to evaluate predictive effects.
Findings revealed that students exhibited generally high levels of CGP exposure (M = 3.46, SD = 0.61), LMI access (M = 3.55, SD = 0.68), and CDS (M = 3.74, SD = 0.71), indicating a favorable context for career development. Correlational analysis showed that both CGP exposure (r = .472, p < .001) and LMI access (r = .568, p < .001) were significantly and positively associated with career development skills, with LMI demonstrating a stronger relationship. Further, regression analysis confirmed that both variables significantly predicted CDS, F(2, 213) = 54.10, p < .001, accounting for 33.7% of the variance (R² = .337). Notably, LMI access emerged as the stronger predictor (β = .479), compared to CGP exposure (β = .187).
In conclusion, the study underscores the critical role of both structured career guidance and accessible labor market information in developing students’ career competencies, highlighting the need for enhanced integration of LMI within school career guidance initiatives.