Navigating Career Pathways: Insights from Education, Psychology, and Technology

Abstract

CONTEXT: High school students' career decisions are influenced by numerous factors, including traditional advising methods, parental influence, and the complex considerations of advisors. Social cognitive elements, extracurricular activities, job security, STEM challenges, and family influence are pivotal in shaping students' career trajectories. Recent advancements have introduced artificial intelligence into career guidance, offering accessible and personalised support. This review aims to explore the evolving landscape of career decision-making for high school students.

GOAL: The motivation behind this study is to examine the effectiveness of AI in enhancing career guidance for high school students. By analyzing various AI models, the study seeks to understand how AI can predict student career paths and the potential benefits of its implementation. The goal is to provide insights that can inform educators, counsellors, and policymakers about the transformative potential of AI in career guidance.

METHODOLOGY: This systematic literature review involved collecting and analyzing data from existing studies on high school students' career decisions and the application of AI in career guidance. The review focused on models like Artificial Neural Networks and Multimodal Machine Learning to evaluate their predictive accuracy and practical utility. Ethical considerations and potential risks associated with AI implementation were also examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

OUTCOMES: The review highlights the effectiveness of AI models in predicting career paths for high school students, demonstrating their potential to offer personalised and accessible career guidance. It also identifies significant ethical considerations and risks that need to be addressed. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of career decision-making and the role of AI in this process.

CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that AI has the potential to transform career guidance by providing personalised support and improving the accuracy of career path predictions. However, ethical concerns and risks must be carefully managed. These findings offer valuable implications for educators, counsellors and policymakers, emphasizing the need for further research and discussion in the fields of education, psychology, and technology.