Early Careers Employer Survey Publication 2025

Top Motivational Factors for Students (Ranked)

Student Voice

Key Insights:

• Recognition and achievement are the most important motivators for students entering the workforce. This shows the value placed on feeling valued and having their contributions acknowledged early in their careers. • Growth ranks highly, indicating strong interest in personal

and professional development—aligning well with employer offerings like graduate training programmes and L&D pathways. • Work-life balance remains a priority, reinforcing the earlier findings on expectations around hybrid working and flexibility. • Security, often assumed to be a top

concern, ranks lower than other factors—suggesting that students may be more driven by development and recognition than long-term job security at this early stage.

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