Parents aren't taking their children's 'modern' dream jobs seriously, study shows
When you are young, you often get asked what you want to be when you grow up. When you're a child, you can come up with wild choices, like an astronaut or a princess, because at that point the world seems to be made of boundless opportunities.
However, as you get older and are asked again, this response becomes more serious with more realistic career aspirations expected. But a new study has revealed that there is a generational divide between parents and their kids about what they believe to be an achievable and successful job.
The younger generation appear to be eyeing up jobs surrounding tech that simply weren't available when their parents were younger. While the mums and dads are more supportive of traditional jobs - teachers, doctors and lawyers - the youngsters are looking to work in video game design, software engineering, and becoming Youtubers, reports the Mirror.
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The research found that three quarters of 11 to 17-year-olds believe that being online has opened their eyes to more exciting job options to pursue, but they also feel like their parents don't take these options seriously. On the other hand, 67 per cent of parents admitted they were worried that their kids were choosing "unstable career choices".
EE, who commissioned the study, is teaming up with BAFTA to give teens a taste of what creative careers are like, in the hopes of trying to close the generational gap. A EE spokesperson said: "We are on a mission to help parents and their children connect the dots between their teen's curiosities and their next steps."
The Set the Stage campaign was launched to encourage those aged 15 to 17 to apply for a chance to work in crew roles in storytelling, production and directing, for a short film that is set to be released in 2026. BAFTA-nominated actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, along with an award-winning crew, will mentor the successful applicants to bring the story to life.
Award-winning broadcaster and 2024 BAFTA Fellowship honouree Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE spoke about the programme, and highlighted how the nature of career success is changing.
She said: "Growing up with phones isn't easy, but when teens are consuming social content, playing video games, and exploring the arts, they gain many creative skills. It's important to connect these skills to future opportunities and encourage the next generation to explore their interests in filmmaking."
The research wasn't all negative, as it shows that parents recognise that their kids are developing valuable soft skills - creativity, empathy and socialising - when they are gaming or using social media and digital platforms. They also believe that children have gained 'hard skills' too, such as coding, problem-solving and digital literacy.
A spokesperson from EE added: "Whether their interests lie in makeup, fashion, performance, or production, we want to inspire the next generation to follow their passions, explore their curiosities, and transform them into meaningful careers."
The deadline for Set the Stage applications is April 25, 2025.
Top 10 careers, according to children aged 11 to 17:
Video game designer or tester
Software developer
Teacher or tutor
Content creator/streamer (e.g., YouTuber, TikTok influencer)
Graphic designer
Entrepreneur or small business owner
Cybersecurity specialist
Artist
Professional athlete
Lawyer or legal assistant
