Information Brief 2012-8
Strength of Career Interests by Race/Ethnicity
Among ACT-tested 2011 high school graduates, African American and Hispanic students have more well-defined career intentions than Asian and White students. The chart below shows that about a third of Asian and White students are not sure what career they will pursue. In contrast, fewer African American (16%) and Hispanic (23%) graduates have no firm career plans. African American students have particularly strong career intentions—45% of African American graduates are very sure about their career choice.
Strength of Career Intentions by Race/Ethnicity
| Race/Ethnicity | % Very Sure | % Fairly Sure | % Not Sure |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American | 45 | 39 | 16 |
| Asian | 26 | 44 | 30 |
| Hispanic | 34 | 43 | 23 |
| White | 27 | 40 | 32 |
Note: Race/Ethnicity totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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