Do My Parents Support My Career? Role of Adolescent-Parent Career Congruence in Employability of Vocational Education Graduates

As qualified human resources, vocational education graduates significantly sustain economic growth, specifically in developing countries. However, the graduates’ age that falls into the age range of adolescents and the career pattern direction that remains centered on their parents impact the graduates’ competency development. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the role of adolescent–parent career congruence in students’ employability development. This study used convenience sampling. The sample size was 147 final students at one vocational school in West Java, Indonesia. Multiple-linear regression was used for data processing. The result showed that adolescent–parent career congruence had a significantly positive relationship with employability development. Specifically, the complementary congruence of adolescent–parent career congruence predicted employability development. Complementary congruence means that parents provide real social support for students to explore, plan, and set their future career goals. This study can be used practically as an alternative framework in developing vocational graduates’ employability. Some development programs can be implemented to increase parental awareness about students’ careers. Support provided by parents can make students more optimal in continuing to develop their capabilities for work.