KANSAS CITY, MO, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A national report commissioned by The DeBruce Foundation reveals that nearly three out of five young people feel nervous about AI affecting their future employment. To combat those worries, the report also provides parents, educators, and leaders with concrete, actionable solutions to turn concern into long-term career agility.
The new report, How to Talk with Youth About Careers in the Age of AI, finds that 58% of young people agree that AI makes them more nervous about their career prospects, while only 19% disagree. 60% expect AI to shrink or eliminate career opportunities they would like to pursue, compared with 37% who expect it to open new opportunities that fit their strengths and interests.
The research also identifies a path forward. Young people with stronger career literacy and network strength are better equipped to navigate uncertainty, less likely to strongly agree that AI makes them nervous, and more likely to expect AI to create new opportunities.
“Young people are hearing a steady stream of messages about how AI may disrupt the world of work, but they are receiving far less guidance about how to prepare for what comes next,” said Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of The DeBruce Foundation. “They do not need adults to pretend the future is predictable. They need support to understand their strengths, explore a range of possibilities, build relationships and develop career literacy to move forward with confidence.”
The report is based on The DeBruce Foundation Emerging Youth Survey, administered in December 2025 and January 2026. The survey reached 702 young people ages 16–24 across the United States, with the sample designed to reflect youth demographics nationwide by race, sex, and rural or metropolitan location. It is the fourth wave of youth research commissioned by The DeBruce Foundation since 2019.
Among the findings:
- Young people are optimistic about their goals but uncertain about the path. 85% of young people are at least somewhat confident they will ultimately achieve their career goals, yet 44% say they have little or no idea what they need to do to prepare for a career. Only 11% say they have a very clear idea.
- One in four young people is disengaged from thinking about a career future. While 79% say they are actively working to improve their work-related skills, 25% report that they do not spend time thinking about their career or do not want to.
- The more young people hear about AI’s potential effects on jobs, the more pessimistic they tend to become. Among youth who have heard a lot about AI’s likely impacts, 70% say it makes them nervous about their career prospects, compared with 46% of those who have heard little or nothing. Those who have heard a lot are 2.5 times as likely to strongly agree that AI makes them nervous.
- Career Literacy and network strength can help buffer AI pessimism. Among youth who have heard a lot about AI, 46% of those with lower Career Literacy and network strength strongly agree that AI makes them nervous, compared with 33% of those with higher levels. Youth with stronger Career Literacy and networks are also more likely to expect AI to open opportunities.
- Young people are interested in AI tools but may need help using them well. 63% say they have used AI tools for career exploration or job searching, and 76% are interested in using AI for at least one career exploration task. However, only 32% both use the tools and feel confident using them effectively.
- Hope drives engagement. 93% of youth who expect AI to open new opportunities are interested in using AI career-exploration tools, compared with 66% of those who do not expect AI to open opportunities.
“Fear of closing doors drives anxiety, while hope for opening doors drives engagement,” said Dr. Andrew Clarkwest, Managing Director in Workforce Strategy and Labor Market Research at American Institutes for Research, author of the report. “Adults should acknowledge the real uncertainty young people are facing while also helping them identify concrete pathways, strengthen their career-navigation skills, and build relationships with people who can help them move forward.”
The report includes a guide, encouraging parents, educators, counselors, employers, and other adults to meet youth where they are and connect with their challenges, changes, and choices. The guide recommends supporting youth to express interest in self-discovery, listening to concerns about AI, expressing confidence in their futures, valuing relationships, sharing career-exploration resources, and providing opportunities for new experiences and network connections.
“For generations, adults have asked young people, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ But that question assumes there is one destination and a predictable route to reach it,” Taylor Knight said. “In a rapidly changing world, we need to change the question. We should be helping young people imagine more possibilities, understand what they have to offer, and build the skills and connections that will allow them to adapt throughout their careers.”
The full report and companion guide are available at debruce.org/insights/youth-and-careers/.
View a recording of the press conference here.
# # #
About The DeBruce Foundation
The DeBruce Foundation is a national foundation dedicated to expanding pathways to economic growth and opportunity. Through tools like the Agile Work Profiler and strategic partnerships, The Foundation helps individuals discover their strengths, explore career possibilities, and pursue meaningful pathways across the lifespan. Learn more at www.DeBruce.org.
Attachments
Jarrett Jones Mazur & Co. jjones@mazur-co.com Ryan Hobart Mazur & Co. rhobart@mazur-co.com