Tens of thousands of tech workers have lost their jobs this year, and the next generation is beginning to notice that the days of free meals and generous stock options may be over.
While tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple once topped the list of preferred employers for high school students, they have since slipped down, according to the 2024 Career Interest Survey by the National Society of High School Scholars, an academic honor society with over two million members. The survey, conducted from January 17 to March 6, gathered responses from over 10,000 participants across the U.S., U.S. territories, and overseas military bases.
In 2024, Google dropped to seventh place among preferred employers — three spots down from 2022. In 2018, Google was the second-most preferred employer for high schoolers, and it topped the list in 2017. Amazon came in just behind Google, ranking as the eighth-most preferred employer for high schoolers in 2024, falling from fifth place in 2022. Apple moved from eighth to ninth place between 2022 and 2024.
This shift from 2018 to 2024 may reflect the tech sector’s downturn, marked by significant layoffs starting in 2022. In a 2024 survey of college graduates by Handshake, a job search platform for college students, 76% of respondents cited job stability as the most important factor when considering where to apply. Location was the next most important factor, followed by a positive employer reputation.
While the tech industry appears to be losing favor with Gen Z, the healthcare sector is gaining interest.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Health Care Service Corp. were the top preferred employers for high school students in 2024. Healthcare-related issues have climbed in importance, with 32% of respondents identifying it as a key concern. In contrast, interest in innovation in science and technology dropped from 34% in 2022 to 28% in 2024.