DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN EXISTING JOBS AND INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS - AN EMPIRICAL APPLICATION OF HOLLANDS MODEL

This study compared data on existing positions in a wide variety of oc cupational categories and corresponding normative data on career inter ests in those same occupations. Data was based on U.S. labor statistic s and Holland typology norms for career interest categories using sepa rate analyses for samples of high school students and working adults. For the adult sample, separate analyses were conducted for men and wom en. Results of loglinear analyses indicated an overall discrepancy bet ween existing positions and normative interests. Certain occupational categories exhibited high normative interest but a low number of exist ing positions, while other occupational areas exhibited low normative interest relative to the number of existing positions. Implications ar e discussed for development of career interests that will reduce this discrepancy. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.