Influence of Parental Occupation on Career Aspirations of Business Education Students in Akwa Ibom State

This study examined the influence of parental occupation on the career aspirations of Business Education students in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. Family background, particularly parental occupational status, has been widely recognized as a socializing factor that shapes children professional outlook. In Akwa Ibom, a state with significant oil industry presence, parental occupational patterns are diverse and often have a direct bearing on children career expectations. However, the specific relationship between parental occupation and career aspirations in the Business Education domain has not been adequately studied. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 350 undergraduate Business Education students in two tertiary institutions in Uyo. A sample of 175 students was selected using stratified random sampling. A validated questionnaire on parental occupation and career aspiration was used for data collection. Mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Variance were used for data analysis. Findings indicate that students with parents in white-collar and professional occupations aspired toward management and corporate careers, while those from farming and trading backgrounds showed higher inclinations toward entrepreneurship. The study recommends that career counselors in Akwa Ibom tertiary institutions should broaden students exposure to diverse career pathways through career fairs, industry visits, and mentorship programmes that transcend the limits of parental occupational influence. Keywords: parental occupation, career aspirations, business education students, Akwa Ibom State, career socialization