New grads are flocking to finance careers. Here’s how employers can win top talent
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
New grads are flocking to finance careers. Here’s how employers can win top talent
37% of surveyed respondents named finance as the most promising career path. This is a notable increase from 30% in 2024 and just 24% in 2023. The survey found that 90% of U.S. graduates want to make a positive societal impact through their careers. More than three-fourths of finance leaders expect tariffs to cause inflation and prices to rise. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and maintained its forecast for two rate cuts later this year, though some worry about what lies ahead, according to a Fed statement released after a meeting in New York. The Fed also announced that it would be piloting the new digital currency called JPMD in the coming days, in some days, as a stable, more stable alternative to the more volatile Bitcoin. The report also revealed that 66% of graduates are more interested in roles that offer AI training. The findings are based on a survey of 260 finance leaders from organizations with more than $100 million in revenue. The study was conducted by the CFA Institute and Grant Thornton.
According to the CFA Institute’s 2025 Graduate Outlook Survey, interest in finance careers is on the rise. This year, 37% of surveyed respondents named finance as the most promising career path—a notable increase from 30% in 2024 and just 24% in 2023. The global survey, which included over 9,000 participants ages 18-25 who are either pursuing or have recently completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, highlights a clear upward trend for the industry.
Meanwhile, salary remains the top motivator for graduates, with 58% citing it as their primary career driver. However, flexibility and favorable working arrangements are also highly valued, with 49% saying these factors are important when considering a job offer.
“This position of privilege for the finance industry should not be taken for granted,” Margaret Franklin, president and CEO of CFA Institute told me. “Employers must listen to the priorities of new career entrants and make necessary adjustments to attract and retain top talent.”
Franklin emphasizes that today’s graduates also seek meaningful work. The survey found that 90% of U.S. graduates want to make a positive societal impact through their careers. Finance can indeed be included in that scenario—think financial planning. “We need to lean into this messaging more, especially during recruitment,” she said.
Embracing technology is another key to attracting top graduates. The survey revealed that 66% of U.S. graduates are more interested in roles that offer AI training.
Today’s graduates and students are eager to grow their skillset around AI, Franklin noted. Companies that invest in robust AI training programs and foster environments that embrace technological innovation will be best positioned to attract ambitious young professionals, she said.
“Graduates don’t want to work for companies that will be left behind,” Franklin said.
Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com
Leaderboard
Marc D. Graff was appointed SVP and CFO of Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), a provider of networking systems, services, and software, effective Aug. 1. Graff has nearly 30 years of experience. He was previously SVP and CFO at Altera Corporation. Before that, Graff served as CFO and chief operating officer for Intel’s Data Center and Artificial Intelligence Group, and previously held other executive finance roles across various manufacturing and business units at Intel.
Tim Karaca was promoted to SVP and CFO of SolarWinds, a provider of IT management software, effective June 16. Karaca served for three years as the group VP for strategic finance and investor relations at SolarWinds. Before joining the company, he spent nearly two decades in the technology industry and Wall Street serving in senior finance roles. His leadership experience spans senior roles at AIG, Microsoft, and Bridgewater Associates.
Big Deal
Grant Thornton’s CFO survey results for Q2 of 2025 show a surge in pessimism about the U.S. economy. However, finance leaders are actively deploying strategies to protect and position their businesses for the long term, according to the report.
More than three-fourths of finance leaders expect tariffs to cause inflation and prices to rise. There’s no single strategy that a majority of respondents have pursued to mitigate the impact of tariffs—the top answer was adjusting supply chains (46%).
But many finance leaders have made multiple adjustments:
—42% are conducting high-frequency proactive scenario planning
—39% are implementing technology to reduce costs
—35% raised prices
The findings are based on a survey of 260 finance leaders from organizations with more than $100 million in revenue.
Going deeper
“The Fed holds interest rates steady and forecasts two rate cuts for 2025” is a Fortune report by Paolo Confino.
As expected, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and maintained its forecast for two cuts later this year. While some worry the economy is on shaky ground, Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to data showing continued strength—though uncertainties remain about what lies ahead.
“Uncertainty about the economic outlook has diminished but remains elevated,” according to a Fed statement released after the meeting.
Overheard
“This pilot combines the credibility of both JPMorgan and Base to help bring institutional money into a more global economy.”
—Jesse Pollack, VP of engineering at the crypto exchange Coinbase, said in a statement regarding JPMorgan Chase announcing on Tuesday that it would be piloting the new digital currency called JPMD in the coming days, in partnership with Coinbase, Fortune reported. Rather than a stablecoin, as some were expecting, JPMD will be a deposit token—a digital representation of a bank deposit that is managed with blockchain technology.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/06/19/new-grads-flocking-finance-careers-cfo-employers-top-talent/