A Comprehensive Study on Career Calling: Understanding the Role of Socioeconomic Factors and Work Volition Across Cultures

Work as a calling has been present in many different cultures and traditions throughout history, offering both positive and potential challenges. Understanding the concepts associated with career calling becomes pivotal for improving the experience, especially for vulnerable groups. To better understand what affects career calling experience and how to enhance the calling experience of vulnerable groups, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and work volition with career calling experience across six nations; (N = 2491 college students): India, Turkey, China, Italy, the United States, and The Netherlands. Our observations reveal that having a stronger sense of work volition and having a higher individual socioeconomic status are linked to a better career calling experience across different cultures. Furthermore, work volition emerges as a universally positive factor, positively impacting the calling experience regardless of socioeconomic background. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the factors shaping career calling, providing practical implications for fostering positive outcomes and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.