A regional FedEx–Junior Achievement study points to growing demand for practical experience, adaptability, AI readiness, and global business skills among young people.
A new Asia Pacific study commissioned by FedEx and Junior Achievement found that 94% of Filipino youth surveyed believe an entrepreneurial mindset can help someone succeed in any job, placing the Philippines among the markets with the strongest agreement on the value of initiative and opportunity-seeking.
The findings come from Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce – Asia Pacific Youth Insights, which surveyed 4,219 young people aged 15 to 22 across ten Asia Pacific markets, including the Philippines. The study examined how prepared young people feel for future careers, particularly in practical skills, entrepreneurship, global trade, and artificial intelligence.
Practical experience remains a priority
Across Asia Pacific, respondents expressed a strong desire for more exposure to real-world work.
Among those asked about employer expectations, nine in ten believe there is a gap between what they are learning and what employers will expect, while 97% want greater exposure to how the working world operates. Young people also ranked real workplace experience, problem-solving, creative thinking, communication, presentation, and digital skills among the capabilities they most want to strengthen.
Looking ahead 10 to 15 years, respondents identified adaptability and learning agility as particularly important. However, confidence is less consistent when dealing with uncertainty: 62% said they can adapt quickly when plans change, while 55% feel comfortable solving problems without an obvious right answer and 56% are comfortable working without a fixed routine.
Entrepreneurial thinking goes beyond starting a business
Across the region, 85% of respondents said an entrepreneurial mindset can help people succeed in any job.
Confidence in applying that mindset was lower, with 61% saying they feel confident generating new ideas or solutions and 59% comfortable working independently and making decisions without significant guidance.
In the Philippines, belief in the value of entrepreneurial thinking was even stronger at 94%, alongside Indonesia and Malaysia. The finding suggests that young Filipinos increasingly associate entrepreneurial skills such as initiative, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition with employability more broadly, not only with starting a business.
AI and global trade are becoming core career skills
The study also points to a growing need for better preparation around artificial intelligence and international business.
Across Asia Pacific, 90% believe understanding how business works across countries will matter to their careers, but only 71% said their school or university has taught them how cross-border trade works. At the same time, 84% expect they will need to work alongside AI, while only 62% feel their education is preparing them to use AI in a real working environment.
Self-directed experimentation was the most commonly cited source of AI learning across the region at 42%, showing that many young people are developing AI skills outside formal education.
The Philippine results were notably more positive. Ninety-four percent of Filipino respondents credited formal education for their career preparation and trade knowledge, while 95% said they feel well prepared by their education to use AI. These were among the highest levels of confidence in formal education recorded in the study.
Bridging classrooms and careers
The findings coincide with the 20th year of the FedEx / JA International Trade Challenge, which focuses on entrepreneurship education and global trade.
Since 2007, the program has reached more than 54,000 students across Asia Pacific. In the Philippines, more than 12,000 young people have participated since 2009, gaining experience in business, problem-solving, cross-cultural collaboration, and global trade.
“Asia Pacific’s long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively we equip young people to turn ideas into businesses that solve real problems and compete across borders,” said Salil Chari, president for Asia Pacific at FedEx.
Garrick Thompson, managing director of FedEx Philippines, added that young people need practical experiences alongside academic knowledge as AI, technology, and global trade continue to reshape industries.
Preparing for a less predictable workplace
The study ultimately points to a future workforce that will need to combine technical capabilities with judgment, adaptability, and real-world experience.
JA Asia Pacific president and CEO Vivek Kumar noted that young people are asking for more workplace exposure and practical learning, particularly as youth unemployment remains higher than the adult rate across the region. The findings identify AI use, less structured business challenges, and real-world application of classroom knowledge as areas where additional support could have the greatest impact.
Bolt Insight conducted the survey online between June and July 2026 across China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.