This exploratory study investigates the relationship between an individual’s socialization into different professional and organizational cultures and their subsequent entrepreneurial intentions. Using age cohorts as a proxy for the duration of work-related socialization processes and changes in the business environment over time, the study proposes that the impact of work history is stronger in ‘third age’ (50—64 years) than in ‘prime age’ (20—49 years). The principal finding is that older individuals, those aged 50-plus, who have spent the majority of their career in ‘blue-collar’ industrial work are less inclined towards entrepreneurship than the working-age population in Western Finland generally. One reason is the perceived lack of support from important social contacts. Contrary to expectations, a work history in the public sector or small businesses does not seem to affect subsequent entrepreneurial intentions. Further research is required to provide a more fine-grained understanding of the impact of work history on entrepreneurial intentions.
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