Change in job values during education

Job values are a central topic in research on occupational attainment. However, studies show conflicting results as to when values emerge. It has been argued that values are deep-rooted in a person and acquired in early youth. Other findings indicate that values change during education. Finally, the importance of adult experiences in and out of the labour market has been emphasised in explaining preferences for work. This paper examines the influence of higher education on change in job values. The results show that job values do change during education, but these changes are small and seem to be unrelated to sex and type of education. Differences in job values between men and women, and mainly between students on different programmes, are maintained during education, indicating that choice of education is the first step in realising one's preferences for work.