The issue of how youth are motivated to prepare for their careers has been longstanding, yet studies in this area remain limited. This study examines the effect of labor market risk, such as wages and unemployment, on the career preparedness of young people, taking the example of Taiwan. Multi-year cross-sectional data from a manpower utilization survey and higher education survey were used, and logit models, including the multilevel-multinomial logit model and ordered models, were employed to analyze the empirical data. The findings suggest that youth career preparation is positively affected by market risk variables. Additionally, school participation and parental employment status appear to play important roles in determining the career preparedness of young people. It is essential that sustainable development is enabled so that today’s youth can develop the skills and capabilities necessary for a prosperous future.
