THE ECONOMIC RELEVANCE OF TEENAGERS’ OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND THEIR READING LITERACY
THE ECONOMIC RELEVANCE OF TEENAGERS’ OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND THEIR READING LITERACY

Summary/Abstract: This research explores the relationship between teenage occupational and educational expectations and their reading achievement as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In North Macedonia, students aged fifteen have high expectations for their future education, with 71.8% anticipating the completion of a tertiary degree and 34.9% expecting to pursue doctoral studies. They aim to work in highly skilled professions, such as software developers, medical doctors, and executive roles. Equally, these students are ranked among the highest who fail to achieve basic proficiency in science, mathematics and reading on PISA 2022. In addition, youth participation in the labor market in North Macedonia is notably low, with one in four individuals over fifteen being unemployed, compared to less than one in ten in OECD countries. Results from the multiple regression analysis confirm that all variables included in the model: students’ occupational and educational expectations, their economic, social, and cultural status, and the language of instruction, significantly predict students’ reading achievement. These findings are shared with the Ministry of Education and Science to support students better connect their academic learning and skill development with future employment opportunities.

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