The Priorities of Tomorrow’s Workforce.

The future workforce of America has clear-cut priorities when it comes to balancing career and family.

In a survey conducted by Adecco, 95% of the children polled say that in choosing a career, spending time with family is more important than earning a large salary. This is the second year that 95% of the children have responded that family is an important factor when making career decisions.

The survey, conducted at Adecco headquarters in Melville, NY as part of its annual “Take A Child to Work Day” program, questioned 74 children between the ages of 6 and 14 about their career expectations. Although statements like, “I want to make 50 thousand-million-hundred dollars a day” make it difficult to label the survey as scientific, it certainly puts it among the most honest.

Besides the occasional paleontologist, the most popular career option for girls 6 to 9 years old is medicine, with 30% of that group naming doctor, nurse, dentist or veterinarian as their chosen career. Professional sports (including a budding hockey goalie), the arts, and teaching were also frequent choices. Boys in the same age group are more drawn to public-sector jobs such as police officer and firefighter (32%), with a neurosurgeon, a floor tiler, and a NY Mets catcher thrown in for good measure. However, one young man in this group turned down run-of-the-mill professions, stating emphatically that he wants to be “a regular man.”

Girls in the 10 to 12 age range are interested in teaching (35%), law (15%), and becoming a singer (15%). Boys 10 to 12 have varied interests, with career goals such as architect, a guard on a professional basketball team, and a computer rep. The older girls, aged 13-14, are drawn to more glamorous careers like rapper and model, while the only teenaged boy in the survey is determined to become an Air Force pilot.

As might be expected, the older children had more realistic expectations for a yearly salary, but even their estimates included a diabetes doctor earning $1,000 per year and a teacher making $150,000. In the under 10 category, 65% of respondents expect to earn $5,000 or less, with a prospective paleontologist making a mere $159 per year. The highest expected income in the under 10 age range is $1 million, for positions as varied as model, professional soccer player, flooring salesman, and preacher.

The children were also asked what they think is the coolest job in the universe. While many actually are going after the coolest job they can imagine, some children named positions that for one reason or another they consider out of their reach. In this category, the job named most often was president of the United States. Other intriguing answers include penguin trainer, McDonald’s owner, gospel singer, toy store manager, and “the person that guards the roller coasters.”

Children’s plans for retirement are as varied as their career aspirations. For their golden years, some have the usual plans to travel, move to Florida, and relax (although one intends to stay at home and drink coffee). Others have grander ambitions, such as building a new career such as scientist, sportscaster, and starting a home business. Several plan to take up new hobbies like skydiving and gardening. One boy simply states that he will have to “watch my step, because I’ll be old.” More than anything, though, they expect to spend more time with their families, including taking care of their parents.

Although the majority of the children lack an accurate sense of money, this survey proves that thoughts of a career–and life beyond a career–begin at an early age. Based on this survey, Adecco predicts that tomorrow’s workforce will contribute greatly to society with their intelligence and wit, and that above all, they understand the importance of balancing work and family in attaining the good life.

For more information at http://www.adecco.com