Fields of Study and Youth Job Mobility Behaviors in South Korea: Analyzing Voluntary and Involuntary Job Mobility

While prior research has investigated job mobility patterns of highly educated youth, our knowledge of how their chosen fields of study influence these behaviors remains limited. Considering the different opportunity structures of involuntary and voluntary job mobility, this study investigates the relationship between fields of study and youth job mobility in South Korea. The study applied discrete-time multinomial logit models with nationally representative youth panel data and found a primary association between fields of study and involuntary job mobility. Moreover, theoretical fields (arts, humanities, and natural sciences) experience higher levels of involuntary job mobility than occupation-specific fields (engineering, education, medicine, and social sciences). Even after controlling for personal and workplace traits, humanities graduates in South Korea face a higher risk of involuntary job loss. The findings underscore how fields of study can influence individuals’ career prospects from the start of their professional lives.