Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of personal and structural characteristics in the development of educational and occupational preferences, and examine the formation of students' perceptions about the labour market and the factors influencing the formation of these perceptions. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from a survey of high school students in urban areas. The findings are investigated using appropriate statistical tests. Findings - Students' choice of educational discipline is fairly evenly distributed, and seems to be influenced by the educational level of their parents. Other important influencing factors are family income, grades achieved by the students at school, and choice of future profession. Originality/value - Conclusively, the present study finds that background variables such as family education and income are significant in the formation of students' education and occupational preferences. The development of an occupational orientation program for students could contribute to a fit between the personal preferences of students and the occupational characteristics of the current labour market, possibly leading to positive consequences for both students and the labour market.