Career Uncertainty and Openness to Non-Obvious Careers: The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Background: Young adults are making career decisions in a labour market shaped by technological change, economic instability and the growing use of artificial intelligence. AI is often discussed as a source of disruption and anxiety, yet it may also support exploration by helping users identify emerging, hybrid and less visible career pathways. This study examined career uncertainty, openness to non-obvious careers and receptivity to AI-supported career exploration among young adults.
Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 80 respondents aged 18-24 years. The questionnaire examined career certainty, fear of making the wrong career decision, perceived labour-market awareness, knowledge of less prominent career options, openness to skills-based career discovery and interest in digital, interactive, gamified and AI-supported career exploration tools. Data were analysed descriptively through frequencies, percentages and exploratory cross-tabulations; open-ended responses were reviewed thematically.
Results: More than half of the participants reported uncertainty about their professional future (53.75%) and fear of making the wrong career decision (56.25%). Nearly half (46.25%) felt inadequately informed about current career options, and only 28.75% reported familiarity with less prominent career paths. At the same time, interest in guided discovery was high: 86.25% wanted to discover career options they would not have considered independently, and 90.00% wanted to learn about professions connected to their existing skills. Receptivity to interactive formats was also strong, with 76.25% willing to use a scenario-based digital tool and 83.75% preferring an interactive experience over a classic test. Interest in AI-supported personalised insight was positive but more cautious (56.25%).
Conclusions: In this exploratory sample, career uncertainty coexisted with a strong interest in discovering non-obvious and skills-related professional pathways. AI-supported tools may contribute to this process when they are transparent, interactive and designed to support reflection rather than to automate career choice. The findings support cautious development of AI-assisted career exploration as a decision-support resource, not as a substitute for human career guidance.