- 36% work in a field unrelated to what they studied, while 56% say their education directly relates to their career.
- Nearly 3 in 5 (59%) say their education prepared them for their career, although interview preparation and CV writing are among the areas workers feel least prepared for
- Almost a quarter (24%) of 18 - 24-year-old don’t know which jobs to apply for
- The findings come as Indeed data shows graduate job postings in Ireland are down 9% since 2024, increasing competition for those entering the jobs market
As college graduation season nears once again, new research from Indeed reveals that there is no single path from education into the world of work.
Research among 1,000 workers and jobseekers in Ireland found that more than half (56%) say their college degree directly relates to their current career. However, one in three (36%) say they now work in an area that does not directly relate to what they studied.
The relationship between education and careers varies significantly by profession. Workers in Arts & Culture (80%) and Education (75%) are the most likely to say their education directly relates to their current career, followed by those in Finance (69%), Healthcare (65%) and IT & Telecoms (65%).
By contrast, almost half of those working in Retail, Catering & Leisure (49%) say their education does not relate to their current career, alongside 47% of those in Manufacturing & Utilities. More than two in five workers in Travel & Transport (42%) and Legal (42%) also say their education is unrelated to the career they work in today.
The research also found that nearly six in ten Irish workers (59%) say their school or university education prepared them for building a career. However, when asked which aspects of building a career their education prepared them least for, interview preparation (32%) and writing a CV or application materials (30%) topped the list. Around one in four also pointed to building a long-term career plan (26%), identifying jobs that match their skills and interests (26%), and understanding available career paths (24%).
The findings come as Indeed data also shows graduate job postings in Ireland are down 9% since 2024, creating a more competitive market for those taking their first steps into the workforce.
The challenge is particularly clear among younger workers. Almost one in four (24%) 18 to 24 year olds said knowing which jobs to apply for was one of their biggest challenges when entering the job market, while 21% said they struggled to stand out from other applicants. Over half (56%) have also admitted struggling to explain how they are the best fit in an application or interview. Meanwhile 81% of this age cohort say they have a dream job they would like to achieve.
Derek Diviney, Vice President at Indeed, said:
“There can be a huge amount of pressure on students to feel that choosing a college course or first job means choosing their entire career. But these findings show that the reality is often much more flexible. For many people, their education does provide a direct route into the career they want, but for others, the skills and knowledge they gain take them somewhere they may not originally have expected.
“That ability to recognise and apply skills is becoming increasingly important, particularly in a competitive and rapidly changing job market. A qualification can open doors, but students and graduates should also think about the wider skills they are developing, and how those could be valuable across different roles and industries.
“Understanding your strengths, being able to communicate them clearly and remaining open to different opportunities can help people navigate a changing world of work and discover career paths they may not otherwise have considered.”
Indeed recently launched Career Scout in Ireland, offering personalised support to help people explore career paths, understand where their skills fit, and move through the job search with greater confidence
