Rank-order structure of High School students’ work values in the contemporary social context

About the author:

Igor V. Dinner, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Department of Regional Economics and Human Resources Management, Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Omsk, Russia; igor-dinner@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0269-4443, Researcher ID: AAE-3247-2022, SPIN-code: 4692-3211, РИНЦ AuthorID: 971476

Abstract:

The article presents an empirical analysis of the rank-order structure of work values among high school students in the Omsk region (N = 14,357). The study aims to identify the hierarchy of work-related priorities and examine its social differentiation by place of residence, gender, and academic performance. A rank-based analytical approach was employed to capture the relative ordering of work values rather than their mean importance. The results reveal a stable core of preferred characteristics, with work–life balance, high salary, and intrinsic job content forming the top tier of the hierarchy, while institutional and status-related attributes occupy lower positions. Social differentiation does not alter the overall configuration but manifests in rank shifts within the upper level of priorities. The most substantial divergence is associated with academic performance: high-achieving students demonstrate stronger orientation toward intrinsic development and long-term investment strategies, whereas lower-achieving students prioritize financial returns and job stability. These findings demonstrate the analytical value of rank-order analysis for understanding the internal logic of career expectations and the contextual determinants of youth professional self-determination.

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