The Career Institute at Ferris State University began as a research-intensive national effort to examine what factors influence how young people choose careers and career paths. Beginning with publications that reported state and national survey research about career decision-making and more recently with scholarly articles about workforce development, the FSU Career Institute has become a regional forum for discussions about career development issues.

"Decisions Without Directions" - National Study on Career Guidance and Decision-Making

In Fall 2001, the Ferris State University Career Institute partnered with the National Association of Manufacturers, the Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation and Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation to conduct its first national study of young people and their career decisions.

Download executive summary.

Download complete report.

Download survey instrument and data.

"Career and Workforce Development Trends: Implications for Michigan Higher Education"

From time to time, the Career Institute invites an expert in the field of career development to contribute their findings or views to this website. For Fall 2003, Dr. Barry Stern has prepared a thoughtful paper about what recent workforce development trends might mean for institutions of higher education in Michigan. His article describes the current state of affairs in the workforce and in education and concludes with a list of twelve ways that Michigan colleges and universities might respond.

Download executive summary.

Download complete report.

About Barry Stern, the author of the report.

Employability Newsletters

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