For the second year running, ‘Doctor’ has been revealed as the top career choice for UK teens, according to research conducted by Survation for the annual BBC Bitesize Careers survey.
In its third year, the UK-wide BBC Bitesize Careers survey of 4,001 teenagers aged 13-16 reveals insights into the career aspirations of today’s young people. For the second year in a row, teenagers named ‘Doctor’ as their top dream profession followed by ‘Engineer’ and ‘Teacher’ in the top three career choices. This year also saw ‘Pilot’ soar into the top 10 for the first time and other notable shifts include ’Vet’ and ‘Police Officer’ climbing the rankings, and ‘Artist’ dropping out of the top ten entirely.
When asked which organisation they’d choose to work for if they could pick any company in the world, the NHS claimed the top spot for the second year running. Google climbed to second place, swapping with Apple, while NASA held steady at number four. This year also saw new entries to the list, with Football Club, Government organisations and self-employed making their debut in the top ten.
Confidence in achieving their career goals remains strong, with 85% of teens expressing belief they will land their dream job. When considering their post-school options, nearly half (47%) said university is their preferred route, while 25% are drawn to apprenticeships. 17% percent of teens want to pursue a career that doesn’t require a degree or apprenticeship.
The survey also revealed what teens value most in their future careers. ‘Feeling good about what you do’ topped the list, up one spot from last year, followed by ‘happiness’ and ‘money’.
Helen Foulkes, Head of BBC Education, says: “We hope these results provide inspiration for young people across the UK who will be thinking about the next steps when they leave school. We know it can be daunting to know where to begin but BBC Bitesize is a great place to start for parents and teens. Our new new perfect job quiz helps people to identify the career areas they could thrive in, alongside more resources which help with future careers, choosing subject options and writing a great CV.”
As part of National Careers Week, the research is accompanied by a wealth of resources from BBC Bitesize Careers designed to inspire and support teens to make informed career choices. These include videos, podcasts, and quizzes available on the Bitesize Careers website, offering practical advice on navigating the next steps. Hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Katie Thistleton, the new video podcasts feature expert advice on key topics like writing a CV, discovering your strengths, and making decisions about your future.
Additionally, a new interactive quiz called “What is Your Perfect Job?” provides inspiration on a range of jobs teenagers could consider, and new step-by-step guides, including a CV and cover letter toolkit, provide hands-on support.
All resources are available to use at home or in the classroom to help young people figure out their future career. The content will remain online and available all year around.
The Careers section of the BBC Bitesize website provides young people aged 11 to 16+ with year-round resources to inspire their future pathway and career choices. Resources are available at bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers.
Extending the help and guidance available to young people further, BBC Bitesize has also launched the Ultimate Guide to GCSE Options on its Study Support site. This virtual options evening allows students to choose where they live in the UK, select the subjects they’re interested in and then hear from students currently studying about what they can expect, and from teachers about the broader skills they can acquire. The Ultimate Options guide then links users to further information on jobs and careers using their chosen subject choices to make sure they’re armed with all the information they need to make the best choice for them.
EG