Developmental issues in career maturity and career decision status

There is considerable diversity in the literature regarding age and gender differences on career maturity and career decision status. There is also a dearth of data on high school samples. The present study reports cross-sect ional data from 1,971 Australian adolescents, ages 12.51-17.99 years, who c ompleted the Career Decision Scale (S. H. Osipow, C. G. Carney, J. Winer, B .Yanico, & M. Koschier, 1976) and the Carter Development inventory (Austral ian; 1. Lokan, 1984). Results illustrated a developmental progression in ca reer maturity, although a less uniform pattern emerged with gender differen ces. Findings regarding career indecision also presented a complex picture and highlight the need to focus on other demographic and contextual factors .