Book Description

How do Canadian students perceive and prepare for the world of work? To what extent do gender, race, region and social class shape their aspirations, opportunities, and experiences? Transitions: Schooling and Employment in Canada presents new research by scholars from across Canada engaged in the study of youth, schooling, employment and social change. The aim of the book is to describe the multiple transitions that young adults encounter in their journey from school to the world of paid employment. Different contexts and conditions affect these transitions and the authors employ historical, qualitative and quantitative methodologies in identifying them. Particular attention is paid to the themes of gender, socio-economic status, ethnocultural origin, and region. In analyzing their findings, the authors apply a wide range of theories, including developmental, sociological, and social/psychological. In addition, a number of the essays have implications for policy-making in the areas of education and employment. The contributors to this volume explore the experiences of rural youth in Nova Scotia, blacks in Toronto, and high school students in Vancouver. They suggest new approaches to researching native communities and the lives of female adolescents.