According to a new national survey of teens, less than half (43 percent) are “very confident” they will someday have their dream job. The 2012 Junior Achievement USA® “Teens and Careers” Survey, sponsored by ING, also revealed that the most popular careers, selected by 61 percent of survey respondents, are in the science, technology, engineering, math (often referred to as STEM) or the medical/dental fields.

Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA, noted, “It is concerning to see the number of teens who are considering changing their goals based on the state of the economy and their perceived ability to make money in their dream career. However it is encouraging that many students plan to continue their education and that so many are interested in high-growth careers. We believe in the importance of driving American competitiveness by preparing our young people for careers in fields where they can create the next generation of innovative products and services.”

Other key findings of the survey revealed that more than a third (35 percent) of teens do not know anyone who works at their “dream job” and learned about their desired career through their school. This finding underscores the importance of providing students with access to real-world work experiences and career mentoring, provided by programs like Junior Achievement’s JA Job Shadow™, in which students “shadow” employees at a business and gain valuable insight into the importance and application of “soft skills” such as teamwork and problem solving in the workplace.

The Junior Achievement USA – ING Foundation survey also indicates that the sluggish economy continues to influence many aspects of Americans’ lives. More than a third (35 percent) of teens have changed their college plans due to the state of the U.S. economy and job availability, and nearly one-third of teens (32 percent) are considering skipping college and going straight into the workforce.