Abstract:

This study explores vocational preferences in 1155 students (763 males and 392 females) who are completing their secondary education in the province of Arequipa (Peru). It should be noted that this is the most important province in the country after Lima (capital city). In this sense, a questionnaire was applied under informed consent and authorization of the parents.

Specifically, this research focuses on the distribution of young people in this representative sample in the different health science careers such as human medicine, nursing, psychology and physiotherapy, among others. The latter was indicated according to variables such as sex, parents' occupation and type of school (state - private). Similarly, we study the motivations (from Maslow's motivational theory) for the choice of certain health careers such as: desire for personal fulfillment, the search for money or the search for social recognition.

In addition, we provide an overview of career preferences for other careers (career clusters) in different fields such as engineering, social sciences and natural sciences.

This study allows us to understand the emphasis of secondary education, the gender stereotypes transmitted by the school and the family, and the vocational training demands of the Arequipa Region in relation to its productive vocations such as mining, agro-industry and the training of cadres for public administration.

Keywords:

Vocational preferences, health careers, demand for health careers, vocational motivation.