Motivation för karriärbyte: Om valet att bli yrkeslärare i Sverige: [Motivations for career change: On the choice to become a vocational teacher in Sweden]

Per Kristmansson

doi:10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.25152138

Authors

Per Kristmansson Umeå University, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3861-3024

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.25152138

Keywords:

VET-teacher, second career, structured tabular thematic analysis, careership theory, upper secondary school

Abstract

Based on a significant shortage of qualified vocational teachers, this study examines the motivations behind choosing to become a vocational teacher in Swedish upper secondary schools. The empirical material consists of 111 free-text responses to an open-ended survey question. Structured tabular thematic analysis of the short free-text answers is used as the analytical method. The results reveal five main themes in the respondents’ answers: dissatisfaction with previous occupations/desire for better working conditions, physical/psychological reasons (extrinsic motivational factors), contributing to shaping the industry’s future workforce based on personal experience (altruistic motivational factors), interest in working with young people, and personal development and a passion for teaching (intrinsic motivational factors). Like previous research, it is the intrinsic motivational factors that dominate. The results are analysed and discussed using previous research and concepts from careership theory. The analysis shows that career change for many individuals involves managing their experience and knowledge capital by contributing to shaping the industry’s future workforce.

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