Taipei: A survey released on Saturday found that athletes remain the most desired profession among elementary school students in 2026, followed by e-sports players and social media influencers, while teachers were among the top 10 least popular careers.
According to Focus Taiwan, the survey conducted by Mandarin Daily News (MDN), an educational newspaper, revealed that the top 10 favorite professions are, in order, professional athletes, e-sports players, online influencers, doctors, bakers and pastry chefs, software programmers, painters, singers, computer engineers, and stylists.
The survey also identified the 10 least popular careers, in order, as fishermen, farmers, doctors, construction workers, animal and aquaculture workers, babysitters, architects, homemakers, teachers and clergy members, and drivers. MDN noted that doctors appeared on both the most and least liked lists, a phenomenon observed in both elementary and junior high school students. This duality may stem from the high pay and social status associated with the profession, contrasted with concerns over medical disputes and arduous working hours.
Teachers were consistently among the least favored careers across both groups of students, which MDN attributed to the demanding nature of teaching, requiring long hours and patience, with delayed rewards. The complexities of addressing issues raised by both parents and students also contribute to the profession's low popularity.
MDN highlighted that children generally prefer jobs they perceive as interesting, fun, or lucrative, while avoiding those considered hard, risky, or dull. This tendency is attributed to the current generation's upbringing in environments rich with computers and electronic devices, facilitating broad access to information.
The survey was conducted online from March 5-25, with 1,582 valid respondents, including 1,286 elementary school students and 296 junior high school students. The results were published on MDN's official website, presenting the rankings of children's favorite and least liked professions without specifying exact percentages.