Elementary school students most often chose "athlete," while middle and high school students most often chose "teacher," as their desired job. About 3 out of 10 students did not have a desired job.

The Ministry of Education and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) on the 27th announced the results of the "2025 status of career education in elementary and secondary schools." The survey was conducted from May 16 to June 13 on a total of 37,408 students, parents, and teachers at 1,200 elementary, middle, and high schools.

In October, at Modong Elementary School in Sasang District, Busan, students exchange greetings with their teachers. /Courtesy of News1

Of the 22,911 students among those surveyed, 16,145 (70.5%) said they "have a desired job." The No. 1 desired job among elementary school students was athlete (14.1%), ranking first for eight consecutive years since 2018. Doctor and creator ranked second and third. This was the same as last year.

The No. 1 desired job among middle school students was teacher (7.5%). Athlete (5.4%), doctor (3.6%), police officer/investigator (3.2%), and nurse (2.9%) followed.

High school students also most often chose teacher (7.6%) as their desired job. Nurse (5%), life scientist/researcher (3.7%), health and medical field technician (2.9), and police officer/investigator (2.6%) ranked second to fifth.

Teacher has consistently remained the No. 1 desired job among middle and high school students. Life scientist/researcher, which high school students ranked third, rose from seventh last year, and "health and medical field technician," which was outside the top 10, rose to fourth this time. In contrast, "soldier," which was third last year, fell to sixth.

Top 10 desired careers among students from the 2025 Elementary and Secondary Career Education Status Survey. /Courtesy of the Ministry of Education

About 30% of students responded that they "do not have a desired job." ▲Elementary school 20% (1,394) ▲middle school 38% (3,168) ▲high school 28% (2,204). The most common reason chosen was "because I still don't really know what I like."

Meanwhile, the share hoping to "enter college" as a post–high school plan was 64.9%, down 1.6 percentage points (p) from last year (66.5%). Since statistics began, the share hoping to enter college stayed in the 70% range through 2023, but fell into the 60% range for the first time last year. In contrast, the response rate for "hope to get a job" was 15.6%, rising for the second straight year.

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