EDUCATIONE: Journal of Education Research and Review
Volume 4, Issue 2, July 2026

CAREER ADAPTABILITY IN GENERATION Z: DIFFERENCES BY GENDER, SECONDARY-SCHOOL BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Arifah Wulandari (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Santy Andrianie (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Adi Dewantoro (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Ulya Makhmudah (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Badiyah Mirna Meilawati (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Prastika Sukma Ardanawinata (Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Augusto da Costa (Instituto Superior Cristal)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Aug 2026

Abstract

Career adaptability is increasingly important as university students navigate uncertain labor markets and complex school-to-work transitions. This study mapped career adaptability among Generation Z university students and examined differences by gender, secondary-school educational background, and employment status. A quantitative cross-sectional comparative design involved 156 students in emerging adulthood. Career adaptability was measured using the Indonesian version of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS), and data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests. The results showed that 56% of participants were in the moderate category, 34% in the low category, and 10% in the high category. Significant differences were found for gender, t(154) = -4.650, p < .001, η² = .123; secondary-school educational background, t(154) = -3.686, p < .001, η² = .081; and employment status, t(154) = 6.359, p < .001, η² = .208. Female students reported higher career adaptability than male students, students from vocational high schools scored higher than those from general high schools, and part-time employed students scored higher than students who were not working. The findings indicate meaningful variation in career adaptability across personal and contextual characteristics, although the cross-sectional design does not establish causality. Evidence-informed career mentoring, career exploration, experiential learning, and work-integrated learning may support students' adaptive career resources.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

educatione

Publisher

Subject

Education Social Sciences

Description

EDUCATIONE: Journal of Education Research and Review publishes critical, integrative reviews of research literature bearing on education. Such reviews should include conceptualizations, interpretations, and syntheses of literature and scholarly work in a field broadly relevant to education and ...