08 October 2025
Young pupils’ aspirations mismatch with Sweden’s labour market needs
Discover Education journal has published research undertaken of 1,832 pupils in grades 1-5 in elementary schools in a region of Sweden, comparing their occupational aspirations to the forecast demand for labour in Sweden’s economy.
The research was undertaken to help better understand the social, educational and experiential factors that affect young pupils’ career expectations, their influences and rationale behind ambitions. The research used the Drawing the Future method.
If the young pupils achieved their aspirations, it would mean that the ten occupational classifications with the worst levels of undersupply of labour would find their situation exacerbated. Only a minority of other needs would be met by their aspirations.
As with other Education and Employers findings (Nick Chambers is one of the authors of this report), there was a clear gender difference in the occupational ambitions cited.
The most common influences were media and online sources, with schools only being cited by 6% of pupils.
Read the full Drawing the Future report on pupil aspirations in Sweden.
The research was undertaken to help better understand the social, educational and experiential factors that affect young pupils’ career expectations, their influences and rationale behind ambitions. The research used the Drawing the Future method.
If the young pupils achieved their aspirations, it would mean that the ten occupational classifications with the worst levels of undersupply of labour would find their situation exacerbated. Only a minority of other needs would be met by their aspirations.
As with other Education and Employers findings (Nick Chambers is one of the authors of this report), there was a clear gender difference in the occupational ambitions cited.
The most common influences were media and online sources, with schools only being cited by 6% of pupils.
Read the full Drawing the Future report on pupil aspirations in Sweden.
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