Preparing for Career-Related Wellness: Understanding the Determinants of Occupational Well-Being in the United States

Around the world, there is an increasing focus on preparing students earlier in their educational studies for specific careers through skill training and career exploration. Schools are providing more and different types of work-based learning experiences, vocational coursework, career preparation opportunities, and postsecondary support to students in hopes of improving their employability. These experiences may encourage students to engage in more purposeful and focused career thought and enhance their occupational well-being. Using the United States as a case study, we explore the direct link between participation in work-based learning activities (e.g., job shadowing, mentorship, cooperative education, school-based enterprise, community service, internship, and vocational coursework) and well-being as measured by alignment between current job and long-term career goals as well as job satisfaction. We find work-based learning links to each of these well-being measures. However, the relationship differs by type of work-based learning activity. Promoting career thought and development for secondary students is likely to have significant benefits later in life. Work-based learning may be one avenue by which to achieve these goals.