A new GlobalData report has revealed a major shift in the dream jobs and career ambitions that young people are seeking to pursue in 2026
According to The Youth Report 2026, published by Pacsun and powered by GlobalData on September 10, young people are moving from content creation to professional jobs for stability. The study surveyed 6,126 respondents aged 11 to 24 about changes in personal priorities, career, and finances.
Healthcare Leads as Influencing Declines
Compared to the GlobalData survey in 2025, pursuing a career as a medical or healthcare professional emerged as the most popular choice among youth in 2026.
According to the GlobalData report, 19.0% of respondents selected medical or healthcare professions as their preferred career choice, down slightly from 19.4% in 2025.
Despite the decline, the healthcare profession topped the list as the career choice in 2026, as content creation and influencing came in second at 18.8%.
Previously, 22.2% of the youths surveyed chose to pursue a career as a content creator or influencer, making it the most sought-after career path in 2025.
Among other notable dream job careers for the youth were jobs as an artist and performer at 16.4% selection, the fashion and beauty industry at 14.9%, and skilled trades and hands-on work at 13.7%.
13.2% of youth chose tech professions, while careers in education and academia gained support from 12.9% of the surveyed youth.
In addition, 11.6% of the youth expressed interest in startup founding and entrepreneurship, while corporate or office-based roles accounted for 11.0%, according to the GlobalData report.
However, as most youths selected their dream jobs, the report also indicated that the number of the young people who are still undecided on what career to pursue increased from 13.2 5% recorded in 2025 to 14.1% in 2026.
Researchers attributed part of this growing career hesitation to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence across industries.
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GlobalData Report on Change in Career
According to the report, the rapid development of AI over the past twelve months has inevitably made young people second-guess their choices about pursuing sectors perceived as vulnerable to replacement by AI systems.
“The rapid development of AI over the last 12 months has inevitably made young people second-guess their career choices, with people cautious about pursuing sectors which could be ‘replaced by’ AI,” part of the report read.
Overall, 61.6% of respondents and 65.4% of females cited personal enjoyment as the main reason for pursuing influencing rather than for celebrity status, while 43.1 % noted that they pursue the job for financial compensation.
An additional 36.7% of the young people argued that they take part in the influencing job industry as a way to launch other ventures or a personal brand.
Among Gen Z respondents, the need to venture into influencing to create opportunity was higher at 38.1%.
Other motivations included gaining workplace flexibility (28.3%), receiving free products (27.6%), enjoying content creation (25.6%), and pursuing the perception of an easy lifestyle (24.6%).
Notably, traditional drivers such as wanting to be famous (21.7%) or gaining likes and followers (16.3%) ranked near the bottom, highlighting a preference for autonomy and self-validation over public stardom according to the GlobalData report.
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Youth Goals For Adulthood
The broader findings are also reflected in the way young people define their goals for adulthood and achievement of the young people at the age of 35.
Having a stable job emerged as the leading priority, at 62.0%, among the surveyed youth in 2026.
On the other hand, 59.5% of the young population targeted car ownership, while maintaining good mental health was cited by 58.7%.
58.5% stated that their adulthood achievement by the age of 35 is homeownership, while 45.8% selected marriage and 40.5% selected children.
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