Centering Race in Career Development: A Critical Review of Career Scholarship and Practice

In response to calls for more attention to social justice in career development, many career professionals have undertaken equity-driven research and practice. Yet, direct attention to race and racism continues to represent a gap in the work of career vocational scholars and practitioners. This article reviews research on past and present links between race and work, along with the evolution of attention to racial equity. It highlights, in particular, the underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and Professionals of Color perspectives in the profession, and the ways in which career scholars and practitioners have evaded direct attention to systemic racism. The concepts of racial capitalism and representative bureaucracy, and their implications for the racial justice aims of the profession, are discussed. We provide recommendations for transforming career development professional associations into anti-racist organizations that can lead racial equity action in career development.