PENNSYLVANIA — Young adults in Pennsylvania are entering 2026 with mounting unease about their career prospects, ranking among the least optimistic in the nation as concerns over automation, wages, and rising living costs weigh heavily on their outlook, according to a new statewide survey.
The poll of 3,011 Pennsylvanians ages 18 to 25, conducted by global outplacement and career development firm Careerminds, paints a picture of a generation that is ambitious but increasingly anxious as artificial intelligence and economic pressures reshape the labor market.
Nearly half of respondents, 48 percent, said bleak news about artificial intelligence has already pushed them to rethink their entire career path. Among those currently employed, almost one in three, or 32 percent, said they doubt they will still be in stable work by the second half of 2026.
Careerminds asked young adults nationwide to rate their optimism for career advancement in 2026 on a 10-point scale. Pennsylvania scored 5.1, below the national average of 5.4, placing the state among the most downbeat in the country.
Within Pennsylvania, several cities stood out for particularly low confidence. Allentown ranked as the least optimistic city in the state with a score of 3.5, followed by Philadelphia at 4.4 and Pittsburgh at 4.7.
Nationally, optimism varied sharply by state. Nevada topped the list with a score of 6.8, followed by Georgia, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. At the other end of the spectrum, Delaware, Rhode Island, West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Iowa ranked as the least optimistic.
The survey found that instability, rather than a fear of hard work, is driving much of the anxiety among young workers. When asked about their biggest worries for 2026, 27 percent cited the rising cost of living, 22 percent pointed to being replaced by automation, and 21 percent said low starting salaries were their top concern. Only 8 percent said they were not worried at all.
Preparedness for an AI-driven workplace remains mixed. While 24 percent said they feel fully prepared and already use AI tools regularly, 40 percent described themselves as only somewhat prepared. More than a third, 36 percent, said they feel not very prepared or completely unprepared.
Career anxiety is a near-daily reality for many respondents. Thirty-two percent said they worry about their job prospects every day, while just 18 percent said they never worry.
Despite the unease, long-term goals continue to motivate young workers. Thirty-two percent said saving for future goals such as travel, education, or homeownership is their primary motivation for working in 2026. Financial independence followed at 25 percent, while 19 percent said supporting family is their top driver. Only 11 percent cited résumé-building as their main motivation.
Preferences for how and where to work remain divided. Thirty-two percent said they want fully remote roles, 38 percent prefer hybrid arrangements, and 30 percent favor fully on-site work.
Rising costs are already shaping career decisions. Two-thirds of respondents, 66 percent, said the cost of living has influenced their plans for 2026, including switching industries, relocating, or targeting higher-paying roles they might not have otherwise pursued.
More than a third, 36 percent, said they believe they will be very likely to need a second job next year just to cover basic expenses. Only 26 percent said they are confident they will not. The findings align with broader labor trends showing an increase in workers holding multiple jobs as wages lag behind expenses.
Still, most young adults do not believe the system is fundamentally stacked against them. Sixty-four percent said they do not think the job market is rigged, though 36 percent said structural barriers make it harder for young people to get ahead.
“Gen Z isn’t naive — they see the challenges ahead, but they are not throwing in the towel,” said Raymond Lee, president of Careerminds. “What this survey shows is a generation that’s trying to plan sensibly in a landscape that’s shifting faster than anyone predicted. They want to succeed, but they worry the ground may move beneath them before they have even built their careers.”
As automation accelerates and living costs continue to rise, the survey suggests that for young Pennsylvanians, optimism about the future is increasingly tempered by caution — and by a growing sense that stability in the job market can no longer be taken for granted.
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