Factors influencing choice of hospitality careers by undergraduate hospitality students in Ghana

Abstract

There has been a tremendous increase in student enrolment on hospitality management programmes in recent years. However, industry practitioners consistently complain about shortage of skilled staff in the hospitality industry. This study sought to examine factors that influence undergraduate hospitality students‘ choice of careers in the hospitality industry in Ghana. The study was informed by the social cognitive learning theory, social cognitive career theory and self-theories, and followed the pragmatist research philosophy. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed methods strategy, both questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. A sample size of 1,341 undergraduate hospitality students was taken from different public traditional and technical universities across the country, using a multi-stage sampling method. The study found, among other things, that students had neither positive nor negative perceptions about careers in the hospitality industry. Also, students differed in their perceptions about careers in the industry based on some socio-demographic and social characteristics. Intention to operate own hospitality business and peer influence were among the best predictors of students‘ choice of hospitality careers. It was concluded that, students intend to choose careers in the hospitality industry because they desire to operate own hospitality businesses. It was further recommended that university authorities and hospitality departments should provide the needed support services for students to appreciate careers in the hospitality industry