Global Young People's Top Concerns Regarding Career Prospects in 2025

Lack of job openings in desired sectors is the biggest concern for 15% global young adults aged 18-25 in 2025 when building their careers. This is according to the CFA Institute's findings in the 2025 Graduate Outlook Survey-Global Report.

This concern increased by 5% compared to the 2024 survey results. Still related to career prospects, young people also worry about competition from their peers for jobs.

Low wages in desired sectors and disruption from artificial intelligence (AI)/automation are also among the concerns of young people in 2025.

The following are the results of the CFA Institute survey regarding the biggest concerns of young people regarding their career prospects:

• Lack of jobs in preferred sector: 15%
• Competition from peers for jobs: 14%
• Low pay in preferred sectors: 14%
• Having to work in a sector that doesn't fulfill or interest: 14%
• Feeling underqualified for desired jobs: 12%
• Disruption from AI/automation: 11%
• AI screening in the recruitment process: 10%
• Geopolitical upheaval: 5%
• Having no concerns about career prospects: 7%

Regarding AI, according to the CFA Institute, although 88% of respondents stated confidence in their AI literacy, 67% of young people worry that AI could negatively impact their career ambitions and make it harder to find jobs.

Currently, students are aware that AI skills are crucial for career advancement. According to the CFA Institute, 40% of young people believe that AI competence will significantly improve their job market prospects.

“Today’s students are proactively seeking to equip themselves with specialized skills, particularly in AI, which is fast becoming essential in the finance sector,” said Peter Watkins, Senior Director of University Programs at CFA Institute, in a press statement on Thursday (June 12, 2025).

The CFA Institute survey was conducted online from March 28 to April 22, 2025. A total of 9,023 respondents aged 18-25 from 11 countries participated in this survey.

The respondents' background includes those currently pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher, or those who have graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher within the last 3 years.