This OECD Education and Skills report, supported by Amazon, presents the most comprehensive study to date on teenagers’ career aspirations across 80 countries, comparing two decades of data against real labour market demands and skill shortages. While it is encouraging to see that educational ambitions have generally increased—thanks to the collective efforts of teachers, governments, employers, and civil society—the report also reveals worrying mismatches. Students’ career expectations remain largely unchanged and disconnected from actual labour market needs. Socioeconomic background continues to outweigh academic ability in shaping ambition, while most young people still gravitate toward a narrow set of high-status professions, leaving many sectors with persistent skill shortages. Anxiety, confusion, and a lack of confidence about future careers are on the rise, fueled by insufficient access to meaningful career development opportunities.
In a world where jobs and industries are rapidly evolving, students are paradoxically narrowing their career choices—likely overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of information. The report highlights the urgent need for better employer engagement in education. Simple actions, like volunteering an hour a year to speak with students, can make a significant difference. Platforms like Amazon’s Career Tours and the Inspiring the Future initiative offer scalable, tech-enabled solutions that bring real-world insights directly to classrooms. These efforts broaden horizons for all students, especially those with fewer social or economic resources. To build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready workforce, we must act now to ensure young people are well-informed, inspired, and connected to the evolving world of work.
[OECD, May, 2025]
