Dimensions of Work Experience Among Economically Disadvantaged Youth

Factor analysis was used to derive four relatively independent factors or general dimensions of the work experience of economically disadvantaged, urban youth. The factors were named and interpreted as follows: (1) supportive context of job: characteristics referring to supportive aspects of the job, such as friendliness of boss, friendliness of coworkers, perceived fairness of pay, and the consequences of interest and satisfaction; (2) state of job and field mobility: characteristics related to rate of mobility with respect to jobs and occupational fields; (3) job achievement: characteristics related to achievement oriented standards; and (4) persistence: characteristics indicating persistent, steady work. The factors were analyzed in relation to another set of work variables and to a set of social background variables. They appear to provide a basis for the selection of criteria with which to assess the effect of community work training programs for disadvantaged. (KJ)