starfsleið

Starfsleið is an Icelandic term used to describe the trajectory of a person’s working life, encompassing education, training, and employment that lead toward a chosen occupation or set of occupations. It can refer to an individual’s personal plan as well as the structured guidance framework that schools, career centers, and employers use to help students and job-seekers map out steps toward their goals.

In educational settings, career guidance often begins in lower secondary school and continues through upper secondary and higher education. Students may develop a personal career plan that identifies interests, strengths, required qualifications, potential occupations, and the education and work experiences that can lead there. Guidance services rely on labor market information, local opportunities for work-based learning, and counseling to support informed decision-making.

A typical starfsleið includes self-assessment, information about occupations and education paths, chances for work-based learning or internships, and a focus on skill development. These skills include not only subject-specific knowledge but also transferable competencies such as problem-solving, communication, and digital literacy. Plans for progression may point to apprenticeships, vocational training, university study, or direct entry into the workforce, with pathways designed to be revisable as goals or market conditions change.

The concept emphasizes flexibility and lifelong learning, recognizing that career trajectories are often non-linear. Stakeholders include students, job-seekers, teachers, career counselors, employers, and public authorities responsible for education and employment policy. Overall, starfsleið aims to improve alignment between education and the labor market, support meaningful work, and empower individuals to navigate transitions throughout life.