The Effect of Culinary Arts Graduates’ Work Values on Major-Job Matching

This study examines the impact of work values on major-job matching among culinary arts graduates from 2-3-year vocational colleges in Korea. To achieve this objective, the study analyzed work values among 195 wage-earning culinary arts major graduates from 2~3 year vocational colleges, using the most recent three years of data from the Graduate Occupational Mobility Survey. The analysis results are as follows. First, the study reveals a major and job mismatch rate (52.9%) of culinary arts graduates, surpassing the 50.1% reported by the OECD for Korea. Second, the development value of culinary arts graduates significantly enhances the likelihood of major-related employment, in line with previous research. Conversely, an emphasis on environmental values decreases this likelihood, aligning with findings on the negative influence of extrinsic values. Finally, further scrutiny of 14 work value measurement items indicates that prioritizing working hours and personal development diminishes major-related employment while highlighting aptitude and interest in the field, and relevance to major increases the likelihood of major-related employment. Therefore, university career counselors and industry human resource managers should closely collaborate to understand the work values of culinary arts graduates and implement tailored human resource management strategies that promote the transition to employment in major-related fields