97% of Asia-Pacific youth say hands-on experience key to career readiness, FedEx survey finds

Ninety-seven percent of young people across the Asia-Pacific region say hands-on experience is essential to preparing for their future careers, according to a survey conducted by Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) and Junior Achievement (JA).

The survey, titled "Building Future Talent — Asia-Pacific Youth Insights," polled more than 4,200 people aged 15 to 22 across 10 Asia-Pacific markets, including South Korea. Jointly commissioned by FedEx and JA and published by JA Institute, it examined practical workplace skills, entrepreneurial mindset, understanding of global trade, and readiness to work with AI.

Ninety percent of respondents said they perceived a gap between what they learn in school and the skills their future jobs will require. Ninety-seven percent said they need opportunities to gain direct, hands-on experience.

Awareness of entrepreneurship was high among respondents. Eighty-five percent said an entrepreneurial mindset could help them succeed in any career, not just in starting a business. Confidence in applying that mindset in real situations was comparatively low, however, and self-assessed ability in innovation, initiative and independent decision-making varied by region — higher across Southeast Asia, but lower in South Korea and Japan.

The survey also revealed a gap in understanding of global trade. While 90 percent of respondents said understanding how business works across borders is important for their careers, only 71 percent said they had studied the subject at school or university.

A similar divide emerged around AI. Eighty-four percent of respondents expected to work alongside AI in their future jobs, yet only 62 percent said their current education adequately prepares them to use AI in a real work environment.

Salil Chari, FedEx president for the Asia-Pacific region, said the region's long-term competitiveness depends on how effectively it supports young people in turning ideas into businesses capable of solving real problems and competing in global markets. "Hands-on experience allows young people to understand how global business works, test their ideas, and build the confidence to act on them," he said.

Vivek Kumar, president and CEO of JA Asia Pacific, said the most striking finding was that young people want more practical experience. "With Asia-Pacific youth unemployment at around 14 percent — far above the adult rate — and the AI skills gap widening, we must give young people enough opportunities to build practical skills and confidence, and to understand how the way we work is changing," he said.

The findings were released to mark the 20th anniversary of the FedEx-JA International Trade Challenge (ITC), a program the two organizations have run together to expand entrepreneurship education across the Asia-Pacific region. Launched in 2007, the ITC has engaged more than 54,000 students from across the region, developing their business acumen, problem-solving abilities and cross-cultural collaboration skills through hands-on challenges centered on global trade.

FedEx is one of the world's largest express delivery companies, providing fast and reliable delivery services to more than 220 countries and territories. The company uses its global air and ground network to move time-sensitive shipments on guaranteed schedules.