Factors Influencing Career Choice Among Business Education Students in Taraba State College of Education

This study examined the factors influencing career choice among Business Education students at Taraba State College of Education, North East Nigeria. Understanding the motivations behind career decisions is essential for designing programme structures that align with students aspirations and national manpower needs. In Taraba State, where economic development is still nascent, the choices made by Business Education graduates have direct implications for local business development, teaching quality, and public administration. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 250 NCE Business Education students across the three academic years of the programme. A sample of 125 students was selected using stratified random sampling. A validated 40-item Likert-scale questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation were computed, while chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that parental influence, employment prospects, financial considerations, and personal interest in business were the dominant factors shaping career choices. A majority of students preferred careers in the private sector and entrepreneurship over teaching, raising concerns about teacher supply in the North East. The study recommends that the college career counseling unit should strengthen guidance services and organize career fairs that expose students to the full range of career pathways available to Business Education graduates, including teaching and professional certification routes. Keywords: career choice, business education students, college of education, Taraba State, career guidance