The role of the market in career counselling delivery

This article explores the roles of public policy in career guidance delivery. Traditionally, most career guidance services have been structured towards the provision of social welfare to the public sector. The New Right critique of this has led to attempts to apply market principles to guidance delivery. This can take the form of a market or quasi-market in guidance. However, guidance can also be viewed as a market-maker: a means of making the labour market and education and training markets work more effectively. Some experiments in applying these principles in the UK and elsewhere are analysed.