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Even though the U.S. economy is adding jobs and the unemployment rate is decreasing, job opportunities for college graduates are decreasing. Still, high school students remain surprisingly optimistic about their future job prospects.
According to a new report from Junior Achievement, 73% of teen survey respondents said the artificial intelligence boom will have little to no impact on their ability to get a good, well-paying job. Junior Achievement surveyed more than 1,000 teens ages 13 to 17 in January.
Of those surveyed, 68% said they plan to attend university, as they have in recent years.
Jack Harris, CEO of Junior Achievement, said: “It’s great that today’s teens are so optimistic about the future.” “In the face of AI, some form of post-secondary education is going to be very necessary,” he says. “We need to make sure that we are preparing our students in the right way so that our optimism remains intact.”
photos of various jobs
Recent data shows that the labor market is strong. The U.S. economy added more jobs in January than expected, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the overall unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.3%, it was a different story for younger workers aged 16 to 24. The unemployment rate for this group was 9.4% in January.
Harris said there’s a bit of a disconnect between “teens who have been out of school for a few years and teens who are just entering the workforce and are having a hard time finding work.”
Several major employers have announced they will eliminate some entry-level positions, due in part to the rise of AI. Employers expect the number of hires for 2026 graduates to increase by just 1.6% compared to 2025 graduates, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Of course, some industries are more prone to disruption than others. Indeed’s report says entry-level jobs in technology and finance, for example, are at greater risk, largely due to generative artificial intelligence that has the potential to replace human analytical skills. Alternatively, opportunities in nursing, manufacturing and construction are more isolated for now, the report found.
Concerns about an AI-driven white-collar recession have already led to an increasing proportion of college students turning to college. This year, more people are opting for two-year degrees or even shorter qualifications to focus on career training and post-university employment.
Other research shows that the rising price of a four-year education is also a big factor driving more students into shorter-term programs.
“It really depends on the student,” said Jill Dejean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. “Some students know that this is the path they want to take and a two-year or four-year degree is not an option for reasons other than cost.”
Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect Junior Achievement’s January survey of teens ages 13 to 17. A previous version incorrectly listed the age range of survey respondents.
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