Social Factors in Shaping Career Awareness and Readiness of Saudi Youth for the Labor Market: An Applied Study on Students of Al-Leith University College

Abstract

This study explores the transition from university education to the labor market from a sociological perspective that emphasizes the social and cultural dimensions shaping young people’s career awareness, moving beyond traditional economic explanations. It aims to analyze the gap in socio-professional capital among students at Al-Leith University College by examining their reliance on social sources of information (family, friends, the internet, and the college) in constructing their career perceptions and readiness for labor market integration. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology, utilizing data collected through a validated electronic questionnaire administered to a stratified sample representing various academic disciplines and levels. The findings revealed variations in the roles of social sources in shaping career awareness: the family emerged as the primary source for transmitting professional values and defining the symbolic status of occupations, while the internet provided a space for digital empowerment and expanding professional alternatives. In contrast, the college demonstrated a limited institutional role in career guidance and counseling. The results indicate that the challenge lies not in the scarcity of career information but in the weak coordination among social influence systems shaping youth choices, leading to a gap between traditional references and the requirements of the modern labor market.