Based on the results of the Bitesize Careers survey 2026.
Doctor has topped the list of jobs teenagers want when they're older for the third year running, with lawyer moving up in the rankings, according to the annual BBC Bitesize Careers survey.
Performer entered the top 10 for the first time, while doctor, engineer and teacher remained the top three most popular choices.
The survey of more than 4,500 13-16-year-olds from across the UK, also saw teenagers rank the NHS as the organisation they most like to work for, ahead of Google, Apple and NASA. Gaming companies including EA, Sony and Roblox also featured frequently on the list.
More than half of those surveyed (57%) said they'd prefer to go to university after finishing school, a 10% increase since last year, with 19% saying an apprenticeship would be their preferred route.
Top 10 jobs teens want
For the third consecutive year, almost one in 10 teenagers chose doctor as their preferred profession.
| Rank | Careers |
|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor |
| 2 | Engineer |
| 3 | Teacher |
| 4 | Lawyer |
| 5 | Nurse |
| 6 | Footballer |
| 7 | Performer/Arts (New) |
| 8 | Vet |
| 9 | Police Officer |
| 10 | Pilot |
Eighty-seven percent of teens surveyed said that they were confident that they could get their desired job, a 2% increase on last year.
Top 10 desirable companies for teens
When asked which company or organisation they’d choose if they could work anywhere in the world, the NHS was number one for the third year running.
Google kept second place, whilst Apple remained in third, however, last year's fourth place - NASA - dropped down the list to number seven, with new entry Business/Finance replacing it in fourth.
There were two other new entries on the list, Media/Entertainment and Microsoft.
| Rank | Careers |
|---|---|
| 1 | NHS |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Apple |
| 4 | Business/Finance (new) |
| 5 | Football club |
| 6 | Media/Entertainment (new) |
| 7 | NASA |
| 8 | Tesla |
| 9 | Self-employed |
| 10 | Microsoft (new) |
AI and the future of jobs
A big focus of the 2026 survey was AI, and it has thrown up some interesting results. More than a third (37%) of those surveyed think that AI will reduce the number of jobs available to them in the future.
Meanwhile, just under two thirds of students (66%) say that they would use AI to help them get a job, with 27% of those asked saying that they would use AI for help with a CV, cover letter or application.
Careers coach, Mark Anderson, says: "No one knows exactly how AI will shape our future. What is clear is that now is not the time to bury your head in the sand. The best response is stay curious, informed, adaptable and aware of the impact of AI on the world of work." You can read more about what Mark said about the future of AI careers here.
What matters to young people about the world of work?
Teenagers once again said 'to feel good about what you do' was the most important thing about any future job. 'Happiness' was second, while 'money' dropped a place to fourth, replaced in third by 'to feel like you're helping people'.
The majority (58%) of young people surveyed said they would not be willing to pursue a job that they did not enjoy even if it was well paid.
When asked what would make them want to work somewhere the most, 'opportunities for training and development' was the most popular answer (32%), a 3% increase since last year. Flexible working hours moved up to second place. Whilst having the best salary dropped to third.
How do young people view their futures?
Thinking about their options for when they're older, over half (57%) of respondents in the survey, conducted by Survation on behalf of BBC Bitesize Careers, said that going to university was the route that appealed to them most, with 19% choosing doing an apprenticeship as their top choice. Fourteen percent said they'd like to do a job that doesn't require an apprenticeship or university degree.
More than eight out of 10 teens (87%) surveyed said that they were confident that they could get their desired job.
When asked which factors they thought were most important for getting a good job, half of respondents said 'hard work'. 'Getting good exam results' was the second most popular answer, chosen by just over a quarter (26%) of those surveyed. 40% of teens surveyed said your background always or often affects the likelihood of you getting the job you want.
Survey information
Survey conducted by Survation between 6 - 26 October 2025
Population sampled: Children aged 13 - 16, across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Sample size: 4,560
Previous surveys
Insights from previous years' surveys can be found here:
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