Career aspiration of undergraduate arts students: Does Gender Matter?

Abstract

The educational attainment of the labour force and the jobs performed by workers are usually related (Salas-Velasco, 2021). However, there is often a mismatch between graduates and their job positions. The field-of-study mismatch or horizontal mismatch occurs when university graduates, trained in a particular field, work in another field at their formal qualification level (Salas-Velasco, 2021). A horizontal mismatch in the labour market can result in productivity loss and inefficiency. This research examines the career aspirations of undergraduate arts male and female students to potentially identify career mismatch. In addition, female artists across all areas of the arts experience gender-related disadvantage in pursuing their creative careers (Throsby & Shin 2020). The assessment of career aspirations allows for female empowerment and interventions in the field of arts.