ATLANTA, GA – There’s never been a more turbulent time for young people to plan for and embark on their futures, and a new survey gives insights on their feelings and plans. The new 2026 Career Interest Survey of 11,443 Gen Z students, conducted by National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), gives insights into what motivates a vocal, community-focused, tech-savvy emerging workforce. This new data set is part of a bi-annual survey that indicates trends over the past several years.


Students are Confident, Despite Concerns.

  • Nearly all (94%) are extremely, very, or somewhat confident about their future after graduating college.
  • 84% believe they can personally make a difference in the world.
  • Human rights is their #1 societal issue, followed by equitable access to healthcare and poverty/hunger.
  • 79% plan to have a job secured prior to graduating or within six months of graduation.


AI Use is Universal – and Complicated.

  • The percentage of students “not using AI at all” decreased from 36% in 2024 to 6% in 2026. Half (49%) use it on a daily or weekly basis.
  • The majority say that AI will have a more negative than positive impact on society, with that sentiment jumping from 59% in 2024 to 69% in 2026.
  • Virtually all (91%) think AI will negatively impact their privacy and security in the next 10 years.
  • AI is rapidly replacing search engines, with 55% of respondents using it to search for information on the Internet.


Employers Take Note: Students Know What They Want.

  • When asked what benefits matter most, annual salary comes in last (49%). Health benefits (72%) are the most important, with time off and flexible work schedule tying at 62%.
  • Anticipated job turnover for this group is high: more than half (56%) expect to stay in their first job for two years or less.
  • When considering a job, fair treatment of all employees ranks #1, followed by work life balance and corporate social responsibility.
  • They care the most about gaining skills and professional development (66%), followed by work/life balance (47%), and positive workplace culture (38%).
  • Job location is not a big consideration. Those ranking job location least important (#7) increased from 6% in 2024 to 21% in 2026.
  • 51% of respondents would take a job with an organization that does not align with their political beliefs.


Other Findings

  • Scholarships are a dominant force in paying for college, ranking #1 at nearly half (49%), followed by family contribution (14%) and high school/college jobs (13%).
  • The top career fields of interest are engineering (17%), sciences (16%), medicine/health services (15%).
  • 52% would go down a career path that guarantees financial success but doesn’t appeal to them.
  • The percentage of students who expect to live at home for their first job has increased, from 60% in 2022 to 68% in 2026.
  • Respondents are largely monolingual: 70% are not fluent in any language besides English.


About National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS):

NSHSS is the premier honors and scholarship program co-founded by Claes Nobel of the Nobel Prize family and James Lewis. NSHSS offers a lifetime of benefits, pairing the highest performing students worldwide with college scholarships, events, connections, internships, and career opportunities that begin in high school and carry on through college and career. For more information, visit https://www.nshss.org/.