The Influence of parents on the preference for a public service career in Singaporeans

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of parents on the preference for a public service career in Singaporeans. Its significance lies in bridging the paucity of literature of parents as external consequential influences on the career preferences of individuals. Through a quantitative research methodology, this paper examines the effects of Public Service Motivation, Job Security, and Money Beliefs on the employment-sector preferences of individuals and their parents. The results reveal that while parents impart their career-values to their children to a significant extent, the values affect individuals and their parents in different ways and to contrasting ends. Such findings may prove useful for government human resources departments in their aims to recruit the most astute Singaporeans to the public sector.