The Value of Career Counseling & Guidance

Have you wanted to point to studies that support the value of career counseling and guidance? Perhaps in discussing it with those who affect your budget? For a proposal or presentation? For whatever reason, you will appreciate the work of Scott Gillie and Meegan Gillie Isenhour, supported by ACRNA, America's Career Resource Network Association. Here you can download the executive summary and the full report. We thank ACRNA for their support of this research and sharing it with us.

The authors reviewed the literature for studies that investigated the educational, social, and economic value of informed and considered career decisions. Briefly, they found these benefits supported by the research:

Educational Outcomes

• Improved educational achievement
• Improved preparation and participation in postsecondary education
• Better articulation among levels of education
• Higher graduation and retention rates

Social Benefits

• Higher levels of worker satisfaction and career retention
• Shorter path to primary labor market for young workers
• Lower incidence of work-related stress and depression
• Reduced likelihood of work-related violence

Economic Benefits

• Lower rates and shorter periods of unemployment
• Lower costs of worker turnover
• Lower incarceration and criminal justice costs
• Increased worker productivity

Do you know of other, similar reports or reviews? Please email and let us know so we can add them to this section.