A study from Michigan State University discovered significant disparities between people’s career interests and the demands of the U.S. job market. This misalignment reveals that many individuals have unmet interests in their work, highlighting a disconnect between what people want to do and the available job opportunities.

Unlike previous studies that focused on skills or knowledge, this research is the first to examine labor gaps through the lens of career interests. The study analyzed a national dataset consisting of 1.21 million U.S. residents, comparing it with employment data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

“We know that interest fit predicts higher job performance and satisfaction, so these results show that many people are not able to optimize their productivity and well-being at work,” the researchers explain.

What we want from work

In order to validate their findings against future trends, the study compared job demands from 2014 and 2019 to projections for 2029, revealing consistent interest gaps across these years. With the ongoing influence of artificial intelligence on employment, the researchers anticipate adjustments in the labor market. However, given the significant size of these interest gaps, many jobs are likely to remain unexciting in the foreseeable future.

The study uncovered that “artistic” ranked as the most favored interest among individuals, yet it’s the least sought-after in job demand, representing a mere 2% of available positions. Conversely, the least popular interest among people was described as “conventional” or characterized by systematic and detail-oriented work, but it’s in high demand among jobs.

Furthermore, the research revealed that interest gaps were more pronounced among those with lower levels of education. This implies that pursuing higher education may offer better chances to align one’s interests with their work.

“Interests drive knowledge and skill development, which support the success of the labor force,” the authors conclude. “People need to be given more information about labor demands during career assessments so they can explore careers that not only provide a good fit, but also have available jobs.”