Job Values of Spanish University Graduates in Education

This paper analyses the job values of young Spanish university graduates holding a certificate in primary teaching or a degree in pedagogy or educational psychology. The degree of fulfilment of graduates' job expectations and the differences between their job assessments and those of graduates from other fields of study are examined. Results show that graduates holding education degrees have expectations similar to those of graduates from other fields of study and, although the jobs of education graduates do not fully meet their a-priori expectations, they are relatively close to the graduates' job values and personal outlooks. The fundamental values of a job as seen by graduates are personal development and career development, career status and economic status, the possibility of combining leisure and family, the opportunity to do something useful for society, recognition, job security and autonomy. Several profiles of education graduates are defined considering not only graduates' job values, but also their employment status and personal circumstances at the time of the interview. As part of the job situation analysis, several factors associated with graduates' jobs are examined. Different factors concerning graduates' personal characteristics and attitude toward their educational and professional career are investigated. As a result of this analysis, three profiles of education graduates are identified. These profiles may be described as 'Education graduates in transition from university to the job market', 'Education graduates with a steady job' and 'Male graduates in pedagogy, educational psychology, hearing and language or physical education who are committed to their personal and educational development'.