Leaving Cert students are opting out of high-risk careers in business and opting for the security of a post in the State sector, according to the latest CAO statistics.
The figures, based on options chosen by students in their CAO application forms in January, show a drift towards careers in nursing and teaching and from business and law courses.
Career experts say CAO points for the vast majority of courses will be broadly in line with those of last year. This is because the total number of applications to the CAO this year (60,126) has changed only marginally since last year.
The pay increases for public servants from the benchmarking process and the promise of job security may explain the drift towards career options in the State sector, according to Mr Brian Mooney, the Irish Times career expert.
The latest CAO figures show a continued revival in science courses at honours degree level.
Applications for these courses have increased by 5 per cent, due in part to a concerted push by teachers and business to arrest years of falling student demand.
Demand for courses in engineering/technology is down just over 1 per cent on last year.
The CAO figures, based on the first preferences of applicants - including Leaving Cert, mature students and others - show a continued upsurge in demand for careers in health and related areas. Demand for honours degree courses in nursing are up by almost 7 per cent.
Applications for pharmacy are up by 12.5 per cent while those for dentistry are up by almost 7 per cent.
Other main trends in this year's CAO figures include:
Education - primary teaching is retaining its huge popularity, with more than 4,300 students making courses in education their No 1 choice, an increase of almost 3 per cent on last year
Arts/social science - these remain the most popular courses in the State. More than 13,400 students make these courses their first preference, marginally down on last year.
Points for most arts courses including arts in UCD - the most popular course in the State - are likely to remain around the 380 level;
Administration/business - applications for honours degree courses have declined by 8 per cent;
Agriculture/horticulture - demand for places on these courses is declining. First-preference applications are down by more than 3 per cent at honours degree level. Demand at ordinary degree/certificate level is down by over 22 per cent.
Law - demand for honours degree courses has declined by almost 12 per cent. There is also a 32 per cent decline in applications for ordinary and national qualification courses for such jobs as legal secretary or technician.
Mr Mooney, who is also president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, said students and their parents were less inclined towards areas exposed to the marketplace, like business and law, and preferred safer options.
He believes CAO points for most courses will be broadly similar to last year although he predicts points for some medical-related courses like pharmacy may rise because of increasing demand.
