Earlier this month, BBC Bitesize announced the results of the Bitesize Careers survey 2025. Over 4,000 young people shared their dream jobs with the BBC educational resource as part of their annual survey which explores the career aspirations for teenagers in the UK aged 13 to 16.
Maintaining its top spot for the second consecutive year was “Doctor”, with “Engineer” and “Teacher” remaining in the top 3 preferred professions. Notably, “Pilot” entered the top 10 for the first time this year, with “Building Trade” also making a reappearance after dropping out of the list and “Artist” not appearing in this year’s list after ranking 8th in last year’s survey.
Top 10 jobs teens want – based on the results of the Bitesize Careers Survey 2025
1 – Doctor
2 – Engineer
3 – Teacher
4 – Vet
5 – Police Officer
6 – Lawyer
7- Nurse
8 – Footballer
9 – Building Trade
10 – Pilot
At The Inspirational Learning Group, we have also been conducting our own careers survey and have asked students who have taken part in The National Careers Challenge during this academic year to share their career aspirations. Unsurprisingly, the careers on our list are very similar to the BBC Bitesize version (albeit a couple of order differences):
Top 10 jobs teens want – based on the results of The Inspirational Learning Group Survey 2024/25
1 – Footballer
2 – Lawyer
3 – Doctor
4 – Engineer
5 – Actor – not mentioned in BBC Bitesize Survey
6 – Teacher
7 – Pilot
8 – Vet
9 – Architect – not mentioned in BBC Bitesize Survey
10 – Police Officer
On the surface, it could be said that the results of the survey are positive. These roles reflect young people’s desire to educate and help future generations, in addition to highlighting interests in justice and problem-solving roles. However, what is highlighted so clearly in both lists is the disconnect between emerging careers and young people’s career aspirations. Careers that include emerging trends and technologies such as renewable energy, cyber-security, big data and AI are nowhere to be seen in either BBC Bitesize or The Inspirational Learning Group’s lists.
Is this the students’ genuine oversight to their future labour markets, or are young people blissfully unaware of the jobs of the future?
The majority of the roles included in both lists are traditional roles, perhaps the careers that their parents have followed, or those that they see on television? In these uncertain times, it could be that young people are preferring roles that are well established, reliable and respected within educational institutions.
Emerging careers are often less tangible because they are still in the early stages of development. With limited case-studies available, it can be challenging to fully grasp or relate to these future career paths, particularly when they do not relate closely to the more traditional subjects being taught in schools. How do young people gain exposure to new technologies and emerging skills if these are not represented within the National Curriculum?
Worryingly, there will be significant skills gaps in the future if this issue is not addressed rapidly. As the old saying goes, “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it!”.
At The Inspirational Leaning Group, we believe that it is not just schools’ responsibility to ensure that young people are as well-equipped for the future as they can be – it’s everyone’s responsibility. Parents, schools, employers and providers such as ourselves need to ensure that young people have the opportunity to explore these rapidly emerging sectors, to meet inspirational employees and develop the key skills that they will need to become successful in their future careers.
We are dedicated to providing young people with innovative opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. By working together with employers, we can empower the next generation to embrace new technologies, explore emerging industries, and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.
We are committed to making sure that every young person is inspired, prepared, and ready to shape their future with optimism and success.
Ready to explore how we can collaborate and make a difference together?
Get in touch with us today to learn more!
