But overall career confidence rises among graduates worldwide: survey
Two-thirds of graduates across the world are concerned that artificial intelligence or automation will make it more difficult to secure jobs, according to a new survey.
The poll, released by the CFA Institute, found that 48% of graduates think AI/automation will make it "slightly more difficult" to secure the job they want. Another 13% said it would be "significantly more difficult."
The findings likely reflect the growing job insecurity in the workforce involving AI, following previous reports that it could put hundreds of millions of jobs at risk.
Source: CFA Institute's 2023 Global Graduate Outlook Survey
Despite these concerns, the survey found that graduates still see AI/automation as important to the success of their desired career path.
Nearly half of the respondents (46%) said it was "quite important," while 20% said it was "very important."
Another 51% said knowing how to use automation tools would give them a "large benefit" in terms of career prospects, while 41% said it would give them a "small benefit."
Career confidence goes up
Overall, confidence in future career prospects has gone up among graduates, at 78%, up from the 75% recorded in the previous year.
Among those expressing confidence, 31% said they are "very" confident, while 47% are "quite confident."
In fact, more than eight in 10 of graduates also said they know what employers are looking for, according to the report.
Graduates' biggest concerns include:
- getting low pay (11%)
- lack of jobs in their preferred sector (10%)
- not being able to work in a sector that doesn't fulfill or interest them (10%).
Source: CFA Institute's 2023 Global Graduate Outlook Survey
The CFA Institute gathered responses from 9,916 respondents in 14 markets who are studying for a bachelor's degree or higher, or who have graduated with a bachelor's or higher within the last three years.
