Research unpacks the complex challenges young people face when researching careers. Amberjack and Springpod offer advice.
At the recent ISE Student Recruitment Conference, Amberjack and Springpod delivered a compelling session on the growing career crisis facing Gen Z.
Drawing from over 1,100 survey responses, detailed in the Gen Z Careers report, the presentation unpacked the complex challenges young people face as they navigate their career journeys, and what employers and educators can do to bridge the work readiness gap.
1. Financial pressures are driving career choices
The data is clear: money matters. In 2025, over 60% of Gen Z respondents cited financial factors - specifically the cost of living (32.1%) and salary (28.4%) - as the primary influencers on their career decisions.
This signals a shift towards pragmatism, where passion is often sidelined in favour of financial security.
2. Careers research is stressful and the tools students are using are changing
The process of researching careers is not only overwhelming but also evolving. A striking 69% of young people said that thinking about their future careers causes them stress, with girls (73%) more affected than boys (63%).
Platforms they use for research are shifting. Traditional go-tos like Google Search and YouTube are seeing a decline, while LinkedIn is gaining traction, especially among those aged 18 and over. This suggests a growing appetite for more professional, credible sources of information.
3. The role model deficit
Perhaps most concerning is the lack of visible role models. Over half (53.5%) of students reported not having a career role model, a figure that rises to 55.8% among those eligible for free school meals (FSM).
Without relatable examples of success, many young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, struggle to envision a future in careers that seem too aspirational and unrealistic.
4. Social mobility: a deepening divide
The research also highlighted stark disparities in support and confidence between FSM and non-FSM students. A third of FSM students begin thinking seriously about careers before age 13, yet only 38% feel they have someone to talk to about their future, compared to 56% of their more privileged peers.
These students are also more likely to prefer structured, prescriptive guidance, reflecting a need for clarity and reassurance in uncertain times.
Rethink entry requirements to help ensure you are truly assessing for future potential. Do not base your decision on past experience (or privilege). Ensure you lower entry barriers to ensure improved diversity.
Recommendations
Here are some clear steps employers and educators can take to bridge the readiness gap.
Be financially transparent: Include salary info in job ads and explain benefits clearly.
Invest in early outreach: Start career conversations well before age 16 - ideally around age 13.
Ditch the corporate gloss: Share authentic, unfiltered insights into your roles – students want to see ‘behind the scenes’.
Use relatable role models: Alumni, current apprentices, and diverse team members all make up powerful voices. Students need to see people like them to rise above imposter syndrome and feel confident to succeed.
Support beyond recruitment: Offer coaching, mentoring, and onboarding that builds both confidence and competence. Be an employer that is truly committed to setting early talent up for success
Train your line managers: Offer a programme of workshops and communities of practice for line managers specifically focussed on how to motivate, manage and mentor Gen Z – this will empower them and build successful teams.
Gen Z is entering the workforce with a unique set of pressures and expectations. To truly support them, employers and educators must go beyond surface-level engagement. That means offering financial transparency, mental health support, relatable role models, tailored guidance and workshops as well as authentic connections with the working world.
Whether you're an employer or an educator, we must take this opportunity to build a system that not only attracts young talent but truly sets them up for success.