Occupational future time perspective and employability: the role of decent work perceptions in Chinese college students

These results indicate that future-oriented career thinking and perceptions of decent work are closely related to employability outcomes. Practical implications include the need for curriculum reforms that strengthen students' proactive engagement in career planning and self-directed learning, while also promoting psychological resources that help them maintain positive outlooks. For college counselors, these findings underscore the value of fostering self-efficacy, promoting exploratory career behaviors, and helping students build realistic and optimistic perceptions of decent work to enhance their career readiness. By addressing these factors, Chinese colleges can better prepare students for meaningful and sustainable careers in a competitive labor market.