RESOURCES AND HOPES IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Newfoundland has historically relied on its natural resources, without broader industrialization. Exploitation and population growth have no w exceeded these resources' sustainable yields. With fisheries a disas ter, and mining and forestry in decline, Newfoundland's government pla ces hope on offshore oil development. A survey of rural Newfoundland h igh school students finds that few plan oil industry careers, however. More often, they expect public sector or service employment. The prof ile of oil-interested students resembles profiles of students interest ed in mining, forestry, and fishing. Students with college and profess ional goals do not aspire to resource occupations; instead, many plan to leave Newfoundland. Students' low expectations regarding resource-s ector jobs reflect recent historical experience, but hopes for public- sector employment could perpetuate Newfoundland's economic dependency. Our data depict an extractive society experiencing early stages of ov ershoot. Other North Atlantic societies may be moving in a similar dir ection.