A recent study conducted by the accounting and consulting firm EY, reported by the Funke-Mediengruppe, indicates that for students choosing their future career path, job security is a higher priority than salary.
According to the survey, 52 percent of respondents cited a stable, crisis-proof job as a crucial factor when entering the workforce. This represents a significant increase of ten percentage points compared to the previous survey conducted in 2024. Salary and potential raises rank second, cited by 43 percent. Flexible working hours follow in third place at 41 percent. Furthermore, over three-quarters of the participants (77 percent) indicated a preference for traditional employment over self-employment.
The perceived need for job security is particularly pronounced among women, with 57 percent naming it a key factor, compared to 47 percent among men.
Jan-Rainer Hinz, EY’s head of human resources, noted that “security sits at the very top when entering a career-and that is not a mere preference, but a logical reaction to the upheavals young people are currently experiencing.” He explained that the economy has weakened over the years, companies have been hesitant to hire, and there are perceptibly fewer entry-level positions. He added that even a good academic degree no longer serves as a guarantee of employment.
Despite the focus on security, salary expectations have shown troubling signs. The study shows that the expected income of young graduates has worsened relative to inflation. On average, students anticipate an annual starting salary of €44,500. While this represents a nominal increase of 1.8 percent over 2024, adjusting for inflation brings the expected income down to approximately €56,000 today.
When examining gender differences in salary expectations, men anticipate an average of €47,500 to start their careers, while women expect €42,200. Among specific fields, aspiring lawyers report the highest expectations, close to €50,000, while cultural scientists report the lowest, slightly above €30,000.
In terms of preferred sectors, students identify IT as the most attractive industry, chosen by 26 percent. The Public Service follows at 17 percent. However, the attractiveness of the Public Service has dropped by seven percentage points since 2024. Trade and transport, and logistics, occupy the bottom spots at 5 and 4 percent, respectively.
The survey gathered data from more than 2,000 students in the spring of 2026.
