| The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of internal labor market theory to the career advancement of community and state college workforce administrators. The study investigated (1) career lines or sequences of positions, (2) career advancement and mobility activities, (3) education level, and (4) demographic characteristics of workforce administrators.;Requests for participation were sent to the 88 workforce administrators who are members of the Occupational Education Standing Committee (OESC) for Florida State and Community Colleges. There were 56 usable surveys completed for a 64% response rate. Survey results are presented for all workforce administrators completed the survey. The survey solicited detailed information from participants in regards to educational background, work history, and level of participation in activities that may have influenced career advancement or career mobility. Internal labor market theory was tested to determine the extent of internal hiring thereby examining the extent of boundaries between community college workforce education administrator labor markets and labor markets external to postsecondary education.;Findings in this study did not support the findings of Massie's 2003 study in which internal labor market theory was applicable only the community college administrative positions of president and chief academic officer, not workforce education administrator. The difference in findings could possibly be attributed to factors such as year the study was conducted (2003 vs. 2010), sample size (16 vs. 56), or location (Nationwide vs. Florida). We found that internal labor market theory was applicable to community and state college workforce education administrators.;Workforce education administrators were more likely to be selected from internal labor markets. In order to advance to the workforce administrative rank at a community or state college, there were certain internal labor market customs and practices related to career path and education level that one must follow. The majority of the participants advanced through the community college labor market through traditional academic pathways. |
