The Class of 2026 is Entering a Different World of Work, Here’s What Educators Need to Know

What’s shifting is not only jobs, but also how careers work 

If you’ve taught for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed something:  the career advice we relied on a decade ago is no longer enough. 

For decades, the path was relatively predictable: choose a field, get a qualification, enter a profession, progress steadily. But for learners graduating in 2026, the reality is different. 

They are stepping into a world shaped by: 

• rapid technological change,
• skills shortages (and oversupply),
• shifting economic conditions,
• and the growing importance of adaptable, human-centred skills. 

The question educators face is not just: “What should learners' study?” 
But increasingly: “How should learners prepare for a world where careers are built through learning, unlearning, and relearning?” 

Our research into the future of work suggests that the next decade will reward people who can: 

• learn quickly,
• apply skills in real contexts,
• think critically,
• communicate clearly,
• and adapt with confidence. 

What follows is a breakdown of global and local trends educators should understand to guide the graduating class of 2026 wisely. 

Part 1: Global Career Trends Shaping 2026 and Beyond 

1. Technology isn’t just creating jobs, it’s changing every job 

One of the clearest findings from global labour market research is that technology (especially AI) is not just creating “new tech jobs,” it’s reshaping the tasks inside nearly every profession. World Economic Forum 

That means the learners you teach today, whether they enter marketing, business, engineering, education, design, or healthcare, will likely work alongside AI tools and digital platforms as standard. 

What that means for educators: 
Learners need to develop digital fluency, not just being able to use tools, but understanding how systems work and how to stay relevant as tools change. 

2. The skills employers are prioritising are shifting (and not always the ones learners expect) 

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs analysis, the top skills expected to grow in importance include: 

• analytical thinking,
• creative thinking,
• resilience and flexibility,
• technological literacy,
• and curiosity/lifelong learning. World Economic Forum 

Importantly, these are transferable skills, the kind that apply across roles and industries. 

What that means for educators: 
Guidance needs to evolve from helping learners “choose a job,” to helping learners “build a skill set.” 

3. Career growth will increasingly belong to people who can blend skills 

The fastest-growing roles globally are often not purely technical, and not purely human-focused, they sit in the intersection. 

For example: 

• AI-adjacent roles that require communication and problem-solving,
• sustainability roles that require business thinking,
• product or customer roles that require both data and empathy. 

In LinkedIn’s latest analysis of fastest-growing roles, many top opportunities are tied to AI and emerging tech, but they also demand broader business and people skills. jobalope.com 

What that means for educators: 
We should guide learners to think in “skill clusters,” not in “job titles.” 

4. Sustainability and the green transition are shaping entire industries 

Globally, the move toward cleaner energy, climate resilience, and sustainability is not just an “environment trend”, it’s an employment trend. 

This shift is influencing: 

• construction,
• energy,
• logistics and infrastructure,
• agriculture,
• business strategy and compliance. 

The World Economic Forum identifies the green transition as a major driver shaping labour markets to 2030. World Economic Forum 

What that means for educators: 
Learners who understand sustainability will have an advantage, even if they don’t work directly “in green jobs.” 

Part 2: Local Career Trends in South Africa (2026 and beyond) 

1. Youth unemployment remains high, meaning employability skills matter more than ever 

South Africa’s youth unemployment remains one of the biggest challenges for the class of 2026. 

Stats SA data continues to show the vulnerability of youth (15–34) in the labour market, with unemployment rates remaining critically high. South Africa Government 

This means career guidance is no longer simply about helping learners choose a path, it’s about helping learners become employable.  Red and Yellow focuses heavily on this point, with 94% of our graduate's gaining employment within months of graduating.  

What that means for educators: 
Learners need support in developing: 

• work readiness,
• professional communication,
• problem-solving,
• confidence and self-leadership,
• and evidence of skill (projects, portfolios, experience). 

2. Scarce skills and “critical skills” remain a major indicator of opportunity 

South Africa continues to prioritise specific critical skills categories as part of its economic and labour strategy. Law Library 

While lists evolve, the pattern is consistent:  demand is strong in areas like: 

• engineering and infrastructure,
• tech and cybersecurity,
• healthcare,
• education-related specialisations,
• skilled artisan trades. 

What that means for educators: 
Career guidance should highlight not only what learners want, but where demand is growing, while helping learners build skills that can travel across industries. 

3. South Africa’s infrastructure and green transition are shaping job growth 

The national push to strengthen infrastructure, logistics, and energy systems is linked to job creation and skills demand, particularly as the country modernises ports, rail, transport, and expands energy capacity. AP News 

This connects directly to opportunities in: 

• project management,
• logistics,
• supply chain,
• engineering and skilled trades,
• and renewable energy development. 

What that means for educators: 
Learners should understand that “future careers” aren’t only digital; many opportunities will also come from rebuilding and transitioning systems. 

4. AI and cybersecurity skills are actively being prioritised locally 

One significant indicator of local momentum: In early 2025 Microsoft announced plans to train 1 million South Africans in AI and cybersecurity skills by 2026, a signal of both demand and national strategy. Reuters 

What that means for educators: 
Digital skills aren’t optional extras. They are becoming foundational, like literacy and numeracy. 

What Educators Should Take Into Consideration When Guiding the Class of 2026 

1. Learners need clarity on skills, not just subjects 

Many learners still think career choice is a once-off decision.  In reality, careers will be built through stacking skills across time. 

Recommendation: Encourage learners to ask: 

• What skills does this field develop?
• How transferable are these skills?
• What kind of work does this lead to in 5–10 years? 

2. Learners need help linking education to real-world signals 

Parents and learners understandably look for security: “Which degree guarantees a job?” 

But certainty is rare. Instead, learners need to learn how to read labour market signals: 

• growth industries,
• scarce skills,
• emerging job clusters,
• and future-facing roles. 

Recommendation: Build “career literacy”, the ability to interpret opportunity. 

3. Employability is becoming its own subject 

For learners graduating in 2026, employability is not only about a qualification, it’s about the evidence that they can deliver value. 

Recommendation: Encourage: 

• project-based learning,
• internships,
• portfolios,
• presentations,
• participation in real-world challenges. 

4. Parents are anxious, and educators are often carrying that tension 

Parents want the “safe” option. Learners often want the “exciting” one.   

Educators sit in the middle. 

Recommendation: Use a simple reframing: 

“There are no guaranteed jobs, but there are guaranteed skills.”  

Skills are the safety net. 

Closing: The most future-proof gift we can give learners is confidence in their ability to learn 

The graduating class of 2026 will not be defined by the job they start in, but by their ability to: 

• adapt,
• learn,
• solve,
• create,
• collaborate,
• and stay curious. 

As educators, you have an extraordinary influence on how young people see their future. 

And right now, the greatest gift we can offer them is not certainty, but readiness.