Business & Finance
Survey finds students and enrolled workers reconsidering majors and careers due to AI concerns
A CNBC and SurveyMonkey poll indicates that rising uncertainty around artificial intelligence is prompting students to shift target industries, majors, and job skills.
The short version
- Nearly one-third of enrolled U.S. students and workers have changed or considered changing their target industry due to AI, according to a CNBC and SurveyMonkey survey.
- Almost 40% of surveyed students and enrolled workers have considered changing their major, field of study, or coursework.
- Labor and education experts warn against premature career pivots, advising students instead to focus on adaptable core skills like critical thinking.
Key facts
- A CNBC and SurveyMonkey survey of 1,686 U.S. students and workers conducted July 22–27 found that 31% of enrolled respondents changed or considered changing their target industry due to AI.[CNBC]
- For unemployed students, the percentage who changed or considered changing their target industry rose to 39%.[CNBC]
- The survey reported that 45% of enrolled respondents reconsidered the skills they are developing, 34% reconsidered the jobs they are applying for, and nearly 40% considered changing their major or field of study.[CNBC]
- A separate report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation based on an October 2025 survey found that 42% of bachelor's degree students and 56% of associate degree students considered changing their majors due to AI concerns.[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- The full long-term impact of AI integration on overall job market creation or reduction remains unclear, leading experts to caution that students may be reacting prematurely.[CNBC]