Career development in Macao: a perspective representing small states and territories*

ABSTRACT

Approximately one-third of countries in the world are regarded as small states. There are also subnational jurisdictions, or small territories, that share similar characteristics of small states. Their small size renders them vulnerable to changes in the global economy, and this, in turn, has an impact on trade, business, and employment. In this paper, we review the characteristics of small states and territories with reference to Macao and the influences on people’s career development. Career paths in small states and territories tend to be characterised by the need for greater flexibility and readiness for adaptation. For this reason, career development practitioners in those settings are recommended to embed the notion of career adaptability within the services and training they provide.

KEYWORDS:

• Career development
• career adaptability
• Macao
• small states
• Chinese

Data availability statement

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elvo K. L. Sou

Elvo K. L. Sou, EdD, is the Head of the Student Counselling Section, Student Affairs Office, University of Macau, Macao, China. His research interests include career adaptability, social capital, well-being, and career development in Macao.

Mantak Yuen

Mantak Yuen (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Creativity and Talent Development, Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, the University of Hong Kong, China. He is a Registered Counselling and Educational Psychologist, a Global Career Development Facilitator and a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader. He has developed and validated the Life Skills Development Self-Efficacy Inventories, which are the first measurement tools for assessing Asian adolescents' self-efficacy in applying life skills in the domains of academic, personal-social, and career and talent development. He is a course co-ordinator of MEd in Guidance and Counselling.

Gaowei Chen

Gaowei Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. His research interests include dialogic teaching, academically productive talk, technology-enhanced teacher professional development, and career development and counseling.