Career Choice and Sexual Orientation

The world of work plays a significant role in the lives of many people. In the United States, it is estimated that 59.3% of the population (ages 16 years and older) are employed, with the average full-time employee working approximately 46.7 hours a week. The capacity to work is of dire importance for most persons residing in the United States as employment provides the income needed to cover the basic costs of living, as well as the much-needed health care benefits for the workers and their family members. This entry surveys some of the educational and workplace obstacles that face lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities in the workplace, the link between workplace climate and career development, and emerging protective factors.