gen z’s career outlook: stability, security and practicality.
by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research
gen z may be breathing new life into the accounting profession.
attracted by stability and clear career pathways, a new wave of students drives record interest in accounting education, reversing years of enrollment declines and workforce contraction.
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some 72 percent of master of accounting programs in the u.s. are dealing with more student applications for the 2024-25 academic year – a five-year high and a sharp jump from 43 percent last year, according to new data from the graduate management admission council. the increases represent the third consecutive year of growth for graduate accounting programs. the post-grad gains coincide with rising undergraduate interest. accounting majors at four-year colleges are up 12 percent this year, adding nearly 29,000 students, according to the national student clearinghouse.
“the resurgence in applicant interest in master of accounting programs is another encouraging sign for the accounting profession’s workforce development efforts,” says susan coffey, ceo of public accounting at the association of international certified professional accountants.
gen z and first gen unite as next gen force
joined by first-generation immigrants, gen z is approaching the workforce with a grounded and pragmatic mindset. shaped by economic uncertainty, student debt and global instability, many members of this generation prioritize job security, steady income and long-term stability over riskier or more entrepreneurial paths. rather than chasing the glamor of startups or the volatility of gig work, they’re gravitating toward structured, reputable professions – including accounting, finance, health care and, until recently, government roles.
their expectations are conservative yet realistic: fair compensation, work-life balance and clear advancement opportunities. accounting, in particular, appeals to gen z for its predictability, upward mobility and strong demand. even as they value flexibility and purpose, many in gen z are putting financial stability and career resilience first.
behind the optimistic numbers at colleges and universities lies a deeper story. the number of working accountants and auditors fell notably during the pandemic-era years, according to government statistics.
college accounting undergrads: the number of four-year college accounting majors recovers all but 5,000 students lost in covid-19, gaining 13.8 percent, to hit an estimated 190,243 enrollments this year. (via nsc research center)
from a high of 1.42 million employed as auditors and accountants in 2019, the number plummeted to 1.39 million in 2020 and 1.35 million in 2021 – a 7 percent decline. in just two years, roughly 100,000 jobs were lost, largely attributed to economic disruptions from covid-19, automation and outsourcing. the profession managed a comeback by 2023, hitting 1.46 million jobs.
post-covid-19 comeback: after bottoming out at 1.32 million jobs for accountants and auditors in 2021, with annual wages stalling at $77,250, the sector started a recovery, hitting 1.44 million jobs in 2023 with $90,780 in median incomes. (via bureau of labor statistics)
however, new data suggest the recovery started stalling in late 2024, and the first few months of 2025 – marked by a new administration, federal government cutbacks, and unpredictable tax and economic policies – have been rocky, to say the least.
jobs for accountants and auditors are now projected to grow at a 6 percent rate through 2033, with over 130,000 openings expected annually, mostly from retirements and replacements.
gmac’s new application trends survey identifies clear shifts across graduate business disciplines: at master of accounting programs, 72 percent are reporting growth. strong advances are also showing up in master’s programs in management, with master of finance programs up 55 percent.
while business master’s applications hold steady overall, programs in traditional disciplines outperform trend-driven fields like analytics, particularly those dependent on international enrollment. at master’s programs in business analytics and in marketing, more than 50 percent of programs are suffering declines.
international travel cutbacks keep next gen students close to home
domestic applicants are the driving force in the rebound. country by country, programs in the u.s., india and continental europe are getting buried under applications from home-country citizens. although in the uk, domestic applications are dropping, contributing to declines at two-thirds of programs. in canada, international applications are down sharply, especially from india, whose share of total international applicants has dropped to 15 percent this year, down from 42 percent a year ago.
women and first-generation students are joining the shift. about 55 percent of programs report increased applications from women, despite the overall female applicant shareholding at 42 percent. more than half of master’s programs in accounting are getting markedly more applications from women, surpassing programs like marketing and analytics. first-generation applicants are growing significantly, rising from 13 percent a year ago to 21 percent in this year’s data. their strongest presence is in flexible and part-time formats, though full-time programs also see meaningful gains.
for years, concerns mounted over declining interest in accounting careers, exacerbated by the 150-credit-hour requirement, stagnant wage growth and expanding automation. the latest figures in academia and the labor force suggest that efforts to rebrand and rebuild the cpa pipeline are gaining ground. the profession is not only seeing more students, it’s also diversifying. underrepresented u.s. groups saw enrollment gains across most degree types, with accounting and part-time mba programs leading the way.
a new generation appears to be realigning the narrative around accounting. with gen z seeking purposeful, secure career paths, and if educators can respond with accessible, flexible programs, the future of accounting may look more resilient than it has in years.