The CFA Institute has released its 2024 Global Graduate Outlook Survey, which interviewed a sample of 9,916 respondents, including 500 nationals in the UAE, to assess trends in finance and related fields as a career choice. This included evaluating respondents’ thoughts about career prospects amid economic volatility and their perception of the social impact of financial industries.
The survey was fielded by Dynata with a sample made up of those studying for a bachelor’s degree or higher or those who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher within the last three years, aged 18-25.
Respondents hailed from the UK, US, Canada, India, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, UAE, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico, and China.
It found that 78 per cent of graduates are confident in their future career prospects and 72 per cent rate their career prospect confidence as at least 7 out of 10.
More regionally, the survey revealed that 92 per cent of Emirati graduates feel confident about their future career prospects. A total of 93 per cent of Emirati graduates also reported feeling well-informed about what employers are looking for, compared to the global average of 81 per cent.
Globally, the finance industry was found to be the top industry where graduates are confident in their career prospects.
Indeed, finance was found to be the top career field graduates consider most stable and attractive. This was followed by STEM.
Humanities and arts ranked at the bottom for graduates, who reportedly continue to be concerned about low pay.
Graduates were also found to be concerned about a lack of jobs in their preferred sector and feeling unfulfilled or uninterested in their work.
Further, graduates were found to be looking to make a positive impact on social and environmental causes. Indeed, 91 per cent of graduates consider it important to make a positive social or environmental contribution through their careers.
Ninety-two per cent of graduates also said that they would be influenced by a company’s commitment to ESG factors when deciding whether to apply for a job or pursue a career with them.
Regionally, in the UAE, it was found that 93 per cent of respondents believe it is important to contribute positively to society and the environment through their work, and 57 per cent of Emirati graduates said that they are influenced by a company’s commitment to ESG when deciding on pursuing a career with them.
Read the full Graduate Outlook report here.