Junior Achievement Survey Reveals Gap in AI Education Among Teens

New data shows teens want career-focused learning, but most aren’t learning about AI in school.
(Moline, IL) – As students return to classrooms this fall, a new Junior Achievement survey reveals a disconnect between students’ career expectations and their classroom experiences — particularly when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI).
According to the survey, 64% of teens say their schools or teachers do not teach about or encourage the use of AI as a learning tool, even though 60% believe the primary purpose of school is to prepare them for future jobs and careers.
“AI is expected to transform the world of work in the coming years,” said Dougal Nelson, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland. “At Junior Achievement, we’re evolving our programs to reflect that reality—by working with our education partners and volunteers to promote critical, transferable skills like creative thinking, communication, and self-direction that will help students succeed no matter how technology changes.”
This effort aligns with Junior Achievement’s new strategic direction, which focuses on expanding real-world learning experiences that develop career readiness, economic understanding, and student confidence.
Other key survey findings include:

• 68% of teens believe schools are doing a good job preparing them for the jobs of the future.
• 42% say they’ve used AI to complete school assignments, up from 30% in 2024.
• 55% believe using AI to do homework is cheating — statistically unchanged from last year.