Indicate the importance of considering socio-economic factors when choosing careers

On this page, we help learners to figure out one of the questions from the Grade 10 Life Orientation Source-based Task Term 1 which is:

Indicate the importance of considering socio-economic factors when choosing careers

As a Grade 10 student, you should know that “socio-economic factors”, are the social (people) and economic (money) aspects of life.

We will indicate the importance of considering socio-economic factors when choosing careers, by looking at the relevant socio-economic factors which are taught in Grade10 Life Orientation:

• community needs,
• finances and affordability,
• stereotyping, and
• accessibility

When choosing a career, it is important to consider socio-economic factors because of the following:

1. Community Needs Factor – Some careers can help improve the community you live in, such as becoming a teacher within your school because there is a need, or starting a business which is in demand which will help community members while creating more jobs for them.
2. Finances and Affordability Factor – Higher education can be expensive for some learners, so it is important to also explore financial assistance options like bursaries, student loans, scholarships, and learnerships to fund their studies towards their favourite careers.
3. Stereotyping Factor – Career choices should not be limited by stereotypes that exist within the communities, such as believing that nursing is only for women or mining is only for men. Focusing on stereotypes instead of the needs of the community can limit the career options for learners.
4. Accessibility Factor – When choosing careers, learners must also consider whether the institutions they want to study at are nearby or not, how much the transport to the institution costs, accommodation costs, and distance learning options. Learners must note that some courses require in-person attendance for labs or practical work.