NEW YORK, September 16, 2025 – Planning for a post-college career can feel daunting, especially with tightening talent pools and artificial intelligence changing the game. A study from CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, found that recent graduates are prioritizing careers that promise resilience and meaningful growth, and they are finding some of these opportunities in the financial sector.
The 2025 Graduate Outlook Survey gleans insights from students and recent graduates to understand their viewpoint on careers. It found that finance ranks as the most promising industry among students and recent graduates, while confidence decreased across other career paths, including STEM, sales, marketing, and healthcare.
“It’s encouraging to see a growing number of students taking interest in finance as a career choice,” said Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO, CFA Institute. “With 90 percent of graduates expressing a desire to make a positive impact through their careers, finance stands out as a rewarding choice, offering many opportunities to earn a good living while making a difference with a distinct sense of purpose. At CFA Institute, we believe finance plays a vital role in creating positive societal impacts, and we need more purpose-driven young people to enter the field to help address the pressing challenges society faces.”
The rise of artificial intelligence stands at the top of students’ minds as they prepare to launch their careers. The survey found that 64 percent of graduates said AI will make it more difficult to secure their desired job, a notable 10-point increase from 2024 (54 percent). While the uncertainty is real, students and recent graduates also view AI as a critical skill to advance their futures, as 82 percent say they’re confident in their ability to use AI tools at work, and 66 percent say they would be more interested in jobs that offer AI training.
While AI is reshaping several aspects of work, today’s graduates know that interpersonal skills cannot be replicated by technology, and they seek to hone those strengths to sharpen their resumes. In fact, 72 percent believe that soft skills like communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and adaptability help them stand out among job seekers.
As today’s students start planning for their careers, it’s important to consider the value of pursuing post-graduate certifications and qualifications. Recent graduates found that continued learning can be valuable to unlock a successful career, as 93 percent say postgraduate qualifications/professional certification are important in today’s market, and 79 percent agree that continuous upskilling through certificates and courses throughout their careers is a must.
As the semester begins, there’s no better time to explore the wide range of opportunities the finance industry offers. Graduates can pursue quantitative and analytical careers in finance as a data analyst, take on a client-facing position as a private wealth manager, or follow transaction-focused paths like private equity. To gain a competitive edge in finance careers, students can pursue industry-recognized professional certifications, such as the CFA Program. Discover the full spectrum of investment industry career paths here: https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program/careers.
About the 2025 CFA Institute Graduate Outlook Survey
The 2025 CFA Institute Graduate Outlook Survey was fielded via an online survey from March 28-April 22, 2025, by Dynata with a sample of 9,023 respondents studying for a bachelor’s degree or higher, or who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher within the last three years aged 18-25. Respondents were from Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States.
About CFA Institute
As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standards for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across more than 160 markets, CFA Institute has 9 offices and 158 local societies. Find us at www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on LinkedIn.
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Media Contact
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