The Importance of High Competence in Adolescence for Career Outcomes in Midlife

Abstract

Earlier studies have indicated the importance of IQ, educational aspirations, school grades, and task persistence during childhood and adolescence for later educational and vocational attainment. In this study, these characteristics were studied from a person-oriented perspective, identifying typical competence profiles using cluster analysis. The aim was to investigate a potential career bonus for adolescents with a highly positive competence profile for later educational and occupational success. Data were analyzed from the longitudinal Swedish Individual Development and Adaptation (IDA) study (N = 1326) with career outcomes measured in midlife (age 43–47). Results showed that having a highly positive competence profile predicted higher income and increased the probability of having a high occupational level, controlling for the separate competence components. The effects were only significant for males. Taken together, our findings support the idea that adolescent boys with a highly positive competence profile are optimized for career success to a larger extent than could be expected from the competence components considered separately.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was made possible by access to data from the longitudinal research program Individual Development and Adaptation (IDA). The scientific leaders are Henrik and Anna-Karin Andershed, before that David Magnusson 1964–1996 and Lars R. Bergman 1996–2011.