Survey: Students prioritize security when looking for jobs
During the economic downturn, money is no longer the top priority for young professionals after college. Work-life balance and flat hierarchies are also less significant - what matters instead.
A recent survey by consultancy EY found that a secure job is now the top priority for students in Germany when searching for a job, with 52% of respondents citing it as the most important factor. This represents a 10 percentage point increase from two years ago, when salary and potential salary increases were the top criteria. The survey, which polled over 2,000 students in a representative online study, also found that the importance of work-life balance, flat hierarchies, and autonomy at work have decreased.
EY expert Jan-Rainer Hinz attributed the shift to the weak economy and reduced job opportunities, advising graduates not to focus solely on security. The survey was reported by Funke-Medien and took place in spring 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
