Recent College Graduates Worried About AI, Want More Instruction: Report

Artificial intelligence (AI) has many recent college graduates second-guessing their careers, with many worrying that the emerging technology could replace them, according to a new report.

Roughly 51% of college graduates said rapid technological advancements made them second-guess their career choices, according to the 2024 Cengage Group Employability Report, a significant increase from 33% in 2023. A significant portion, 39%, even worry that AI could replace their jobs.

The 974 recent graduates surveyed by Cengage also don’t feel like they’re prepared to work with generative AI, with more than half saying their programs didn’t prepare them to use AI tools. That figure varied by age, however.

The vast majority of graduates, 70%, said basic generative AI training should be integrated into courses — and 69% said they need more training on how to work with emerging technologies in their current roles.

Graduates with bachelor’s and graduate degrees were most likely to say they were threatened by generative AI, at 45% and 44% respectively. Graduates with associate degrees or vocational or skills training felt less threatened by the emerging technologies, according to the survey.

The data should show colleges and universities the importance of developing AI instruction, Cengage Group CEO Michael Hansen said in a press release.

“The data supports the growing need for GenAI training and professional skills development,” Hansen said. “Given the rapid speed at which GenAI is evolving, the development of these skills must come from use, practice, and experimentation — both in the classroom and in the workplace.

“We cannot live in fear of this technology. We must instead create environments where individuals can gain exposure to these tools and deepen their skill set in working alongside GenAI. By bridging the GenAI skills gap, we can ensure our graduates are not just prepared for their first job but are equipped with the adaptability and technological fluency to thrive throughout their careers.”

The graduate trepidations reflected in the Cengage Group survey mirror findings by a recent BestColleges survey that found 53% of respondents were worried about the impacts of AI on the workforce.

More than a quarter of students, 27%, told BestColleges that the rise of AI in the workforce led them to doubt or reconsider their major.

Fears about AI didn’t stop recent graduates from touting the value of their degree in the Cengage survey. In fact, the 2024 Cengage Group Employability Report reflected a record-breaking 73% of graduates who said their education was worth the cost — up from 52% in 2023.

That reflects curriculum shifts toward skills-based learning and in-demand skills. Roughly 57% of recent graduates said their college or training program provided them with the skills needed to perform their first professional job, an increase from 41% who said the same in 2023.

“The increased satisfaction among graduates and their improved perception of education’s value are encouraging signs that educators are listening and responding to the needs of both students and employers,” Hansen said in the release.

“As we continue to bridge the gap between education and employment, we’re not just preparing students for jobs — we are empowering them to build successful, adaptable careers in an ever-changing market.”

While AI has become an increasingly important skill for workers and employers alike, employers still value human skills amid the rise of AI.

A recent Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) survey found that employers expect AI to grow in importance over the next few years, but they also prize skills like problem-solving, strategic thinking, and leadership.

“These core business school skills … are really what employers are looking for both today and tomorrow,” report author Andrew Walker told BestColleges in an interview.