Demographic Variations in Confidence and Career Skills Preferences of ABM Strand Senior High School Students

Student confidence affects academic engagement, while career skills preferences drive educational and professional choices, but the gap between these two crucial aspects is understudied. This study examined the confidence levels and career skills preferences of ABM strand senior high school students in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from fifty senior high school students through an expert-validated and reliability-tested instrument. The analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that students were generally “fairly confident” in their ABM subjects, with accountancy career skills being rated higher than business and management—no significant differences in confidence level and career skills preferences when grouped by sex and year level. However, when grouped by age, significant differences emerged in both confidence level and career skills preferences, with younger students reporting lower confidence and differing career preferences compared to older peers. These results provide insights for teachers and guidance counselors in addressing confidence development and career preparation among ABM students.