The Olena Zelenska Foundation has presented the results of a nationwide research titled “Future Index: Professional Expectations and Development of Adolescents in Ukraine,” which surveyed more than 10,000 teenagers aged 13–16 and their parents.
The survey revealed that 70% of teenagers cannot name a profession or field in which they would like to work by the age of 30, and one in five has not yet considered any career path. At the same time, 82% of respondents have an optimistic outlook on their future.
“The results of the ‘Future Index’ show that our teenagers still believe in their future, but they need more support in choosing their professional path. Our task is to create conditions where every child’s talent and skill can find its place here, in Ukraine,” said Olena Zelenska.
According to the study, most career expectations do not align with actual labor market demands: teenagers gravitate toward popular fields such as IT, media, and law, while understaffed sectors like manufacturing remain largely overlooked.
Currently, career orientation for school students is based mainly on conversations with parents. Only 3% of respondents have completed internships, 7% have met with career advisors, and 11% have participated in workplace tours. In rural areas, the situation is further complicated by the lack of extracurricular centers and logistical barriers.
“We want every child, teenager, or young person – regardless of where they live, the conditions they grow up in, or the experiences they’ve endured due to the war – to have equal access to education and development,” the First Lady emphasized.
The presentation of the research findings took place at the Career Festival at VDNG in Kyiv and was organized in cooperation with the KSE Institute and UNICEF in Ukraine.
Reference. The Olena Zelenska Foundation implements projects for children, teenagers, and youth in three areas: support for family-based care, access to education and development, and psychosocial assistance. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, over 70 partners from more than 30 countries have joined the Foundation’s projects.
The “Future Index” is an initiative launched by the Foundation in 2023. This year, it focuses on analyzing the expectations of Ukrainian teenagers regarding their professional future.