Monday, May 5, 2025
When I grow up... children's career aspirations for 2025
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If you have a child between the ages of 7 and 14, you've probably heard this famous phrase: ‘When I grow up, I want to be...’
And then the answers come flooding in: a vet, a firefighter, a teacher, or even an influencer!
But are these dreams the same as they were five years ago?
And what do they tell us about our times and the aspirations of the youngest members of our society? This is the question addressed by a fascinating study conducted by Junior City and published in March 2025 in an article entitled: ‘5 years on: When I grow up, I want to be...’.
Thanks to a survey conducted by Familybus among 600 children and young teenagers, we discover a ranking of the jobs that inspire this generation...
And it's fair to say that things have changed a lot since 2020!
📅 Flashback: children's dreams in the midst of a pandemic
Remember: in 2020, as the world lived under lockdown and social distancing measures, everyday heroes were celebrated everywhere. Children dreamed of becoming doctors, nurses, firefighters and teachers. These professions were synonymous with courage, solidarity and kindness. They embodied hope.
The media highlighted frontline healthcare workers, teachers who ensured the continuity of education, and law enforcement officers responsible for maintaining a semblance of order in a society that had been put on hold.
It's no surprise that these figures captured the imagination of young people at the time.
🐾 2025: animals take centre stage!
Five years later, the rankings have changed.
Healthcare professions, although still well placed, have lost their place on the podium. In 2025, the profession that children dream of most is... veterinary surgeon!
More generally, animal-related professions come out on top, accounting for
24% of responses. And it's not just medical care; there are also vocations such as animal caretaker or zoo employee. Children's passion for animals is well known, but here it is reinforced by the increased visibility of these professions through TV shows, content on YouTube and TikTok, and the influence of animal parks.
This trend is very pronounced among girls: 35% of them dream of a career related to animals, compared to only 12% of boys.
👮 ♂️Firefighters, police officers... and influencers!
Among boys, the logic is slightly different. It is mainly security-related professions that appeal to them: firefighter, police officer, gendarme.
These professions are still seen as symbols of action, bravery and respect. They inspire a strong and valued image, particularly in games and TV series. But another ambition is becoming increasingly important in their minds: that of becoming an influencer. Yes, 14% of boys aged 11 to 14 would like to pursue this career. Behind this choice is not only the (often propagated) idea of easy money or quick fame. Many are attracted by creativity, freedom of expression, or the opportunity to share their passion, particularly in the world of gaming.
👩 ⚕️ Doctor remains a solid dream!
Healthcare professions are still very popular. Doctor is still one of the most common answers, for both girls and boys. This is an important development: a few years ago, girls tended to see themselves as nurses and boys as doctors. Today, these perceptions are changing.
More and more girls are thinking of becoming doctors, surgeons or specialists, and boys no longer hesitate to talk about becoming nursing assistants or childcare workers.
This shows that younger generations are slowly but surely beginning to break free from gender stereotypes.
📚 Dreams still very gendered...
But despite these positive developments, the study shows that children's career aspirations remain strongly gendered. The family, school and media environment still greatly influence how children imagine their future. For example: Many girls want to become school teachers. This choice is consistent with reality: 84.4% of primary school teachers are women (source: Ministry of National Education). Boys, on the other hand, continue to dream of high-profile careers in sport (football remains very popular) or the media (influencer, YouTuber, etc.). These aspirations are therefore not detached from the social reality they perceive. Children identify with the roles they see in their everyday lives.
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💬 What if these dreams were mainly... a reflection of their inner world?
What this study reminds us is that the careers chosen by children are not concrete plans. They are primarily an expression of their imagination, their interests and their values. Whether they want to be a veterinarian, a firefighter, a doctor or an influencer, all these careers have something in common:
- A desire to do good,
- A desire to be useful,
- A desire to interact with others, even to protect or inspire them.
And in a way, that may be the most reassuring constant!
Despite the times we live in, despite screens and social media, children still dream of a better world... and they want to be part of it.
📌 Source of the article: ‘5 years later: when I grow up, I want to be...’, article published by Junior City on 26 March 2025, based on the results of the Familybus panel (600 children and teenagers surveyed in January 2025).
Content provided by YOGA NOEL