Factors Affecting Choice of Occupation (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Economics)
Revision Note
Written by: Steve Vorster
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Wage Factors
The occupational choices of workers are influenced by a range of wage and non-wage factors, which are often held in balance when making decisions about where to work
Wage factors are financial payments that workers receive for their labour
Non-wage factors incorporate a range of influences that are meaningful to a worker
A Summary of Wage Factors That Influence Occupational Choices
Factor | Explanation |
---|---|
Wages |
|
Salary |
|
Commission |
|
Bonus |
|
Piece rate pay |
|
Performance related pay (PRP) |
|
Share options |
|
Fringe benefits |
|
Non-wage Factors
Many different non-wage factors influence a workers choice of occupation
Length of training or level of education required: The longer the time period required to study/train for a job, the fewer the number of people who seek employment in that occupation, e.g. it usually takes seven years to become a lawyer
Job security: Employment contracts in different industries have different time periods attached to them. Some contracts are one to four years in length,
and enjoying work is a significant part of generating job satisfaction. Workers will often change their jobs/careers so as to improve their job satisfaction
Career prospects: Jobs with a defined pathway for promotion (and salary increases) are often more desirable
Level of challenge: Many workers step into an occupation due to the challenge of the role, e.g. firefighters
Status: Some jobs carry a higher recognition in society which workers find appealing, for example doctors, surgeons and lawyers
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This is a popular topic in Paper 2 structured questions. Questions can range from 2 mark 'define' questions (define wages) to 8 mark 'discuss' questions (Discuss whether an increase in wages will attract more people to work in a specific industry).
To answer the discuss questions develop a two sided argument:
On the one hand, yes it will attract more workers because...
However, on the other hand it may not because of the non wage factors (explain them)
If you look at both possibilities, then you have developed a balanced argument.
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