Students Under Pressure: AI, Stress, and the Future of Work

Navigating Uncertainty in a Changing World

University students today face a unique paradox: they’re told to prepare for the future, but the future keeps changing. With AI reshaping industries and graduate jobs shrinking, the pressure to 'get ahead' has never been greater, or more elusive.

The traditional university pathway, once seen as a launchpad to career success, now feels less certain. Students are expected to be job-ready for roles that may not yet exist, in industries that are still being defined.

The Rise of AI and the Shrinking Graduate Landscape

According to the World Economic Forum, 44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted by Ai and automation by 2027. Graduate schemes are becoming more competitive as placements are reduced, redefined, or eliminated. The roles that once welcomed graduates are now being absorbed by Ai systems, leaving students unsure of where they fit.

And here’s the kicker... 65% of children entering primary school today will work in job categories that don’t yet exist. How can students be job-ready for a future that hasn’t been written?

This uncertainty creates a climate of stress and disorientation. Students are trying to align their studies with a viable career path, but the map keeps changing.

Declining Confidence in Traditional Degrees

In the United States, a Gallup poll reported by Harvard Business Review in 2023 revealed declining enthusiasm for traditional degrees. This trend is even more pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region. In Malaysia, for example, many young people are gravitating towards careers in social media, drawn by the promise of financial independence and digital success.

Global companies are responding by valuing skills over traditional degrees, prioritising hands-on experience and adaptability. Apprenticeship programmes from firms like Google and Amazon are opening doors for non-traditional candidates, signalling a shift in what “career readiness” really means. Universities will have to adapt and evolve their courses, teaching techniques and support for graduates moving into the workforce, but how quickly can they get there?

Hysteria of Ai

Every time a new technological advancement emerges, it’s met with fear: it will take away jobs, erode morality, or threaten lives. This was true for electricity, the automobile, the internet, robotics, and now Ai.

This hysteria is predictable. But history shows us that while some jobs are lost, others are created. Societal values may shift, but they also evolve. Ethical progress often follows disruption.

Still, the pressure to perform academically while navigating personal development is intense. Now imagine layering on the ground-shift of a technological revolution happening in real time, at breakneck speed.

Students often feel driven but exhausted, ambitious but unsure. This tension impacts mental health, motivation, and engagement. Left unmanaged, it can unravel.

Coaching as a Strategic Response

At EQ Coaching, we offer a proactive solution. The Ignite Programme helps students build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and strategic thinking, skills that Ai cannot replicate.

Using tools like CliftonStrengths, values mapping, and the SUREI model, we help students:

• Understand their unique wiring and energy drivers

• Build resilience and decision-making capacity

• Align their strengths with future opportunities

This isn’t just personal development, it’s futureproofing.

The Human Edge in an Automated World

In a world of automation, human insight is the ultimate edge. Emotional intelligence, creativity, and relational depth are increasingly valuable.

Coaching helps students cultivate these attributes, preparing them not just for employment, but for leadership and impact.

When students use their university experience to explore identity, clarify values, and understand their motivations, they begin to make sense of their place in the world. They engage more meaningfully with their studies, their community, and the future workplace.

They come out of university on the front foot, not just qualified, but prepared.

Final Thought

The future belongs to those who know themselves.

Ignite equips students to navigate uncertainty, manage stress, and build a future that reflects their values.

Because in a world of AI, being human is your greatest advantage. How unique you are in a world of 8 billion people is the core of the coaching experience you can explore with us.