Millennials Feel Financially Unstable, Continuing Education May be the Solution

Posted by Des Sinkevich on March 11, 2025

As we navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing job market, millennials are focused on taking proactive steps to ensure their future success. Motivated by the need for financial stability, career advancement, and being able to provide for their families, furthering their education is a priority in 2025. 64% of survey respondents are considering enrolling in career certification or professional development courses to help them achieve these goals, while 43% are considering college degree programs to help them advance in their careers.

 

Aligning with their goals for the year, millennials’ key areas of focus are career growth, financial well-being, and overall wellness. When asked about their priorities for the upcoming year, 63% of respondents ranked career development as their top focus. This indicates a strong commitment to improving their job skills and advancing in their respective fields to ensure employment reliability.

 

Beyond career development, 44% of millennials are prioritizing financial planning, emphasizing their focus on securing both a stable future and financial stability in today’s economy. Health and wellness are also key concerns for 41% of respondents, highlighting the desire for a balanced approach to personal well-being.

 

Interestingly, 38% of respondents named education as a key goal, reinforcing the ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement as essential components of professional and personal betterment.

 

When considering going back to school for a degree program or enrolling in courses that can help them build skills that are relevant to career advancement, millennials need to consider several factors. However, there are two that stand out most – affordability and flexibility.

 

Affordability is the top concern for 65% of survey respondents. Whether it’s due to student loan payments or the current cost of living, millennials prioritize education opportunities that can be accommodated within their budget.

 

Additionally, as adults with jobs, family responsibilities, and other concerns, flexibility is a must-have for education and training programs for 59% of respondents. In line with these needs, millennials increasingly see online learning as a practical and accessible pathway toward achieving their career goals.

 

Education programs that are online and allow for asynchronous learning – and which are often significantly more affordable than in-person schools – allow millennials to continue reaching for their goals without more stress than necessary that may come with commuting or needing to log on at specific times.

 

As part of their desire for financial stability and career advancement, respondents express a strong desire to "make more money," "secure a better future," and "provide for family." To achieve these goals, most acknowledge that going back to school in some form is a must to gain skills and stay sharp. This could mean learning an entirely new career, upskilling, or focusing on courses that could help them move into higher roles within their current profession.

 

Education and training programs serve as critical tools for achieving economic security and mobility, while professional development is linked to job security and career progression. Without opportunities to gain new skills and grow, millennial workers may find themselves stagnating and unhappy with their jobs – leading them to potentially seek out new employers. With this in mind, it can be beneficial for employers to provide clear pathways for advancement and education or, at the very least, support employees who seek higher education and training outside of work.

 

While online programs and degrees are viewed more favorably today, there are still many challenges that come with online learning, from perception of quality to what online education can actually provide learners. It’s essential that, as it continues to gain wider acceptance, institutions keep affordability and flexibility top of mind to best serve the needs of learners who seek non-traditional pathways toward education and economic mobility. But besides offering self-paced courses, it’s important that online institutions ensure that their offered programs are accessible to a broad range of learners and meet their learning needs. Being able to complete coursework on multiple devices is a must, allowing learners to take their education on the go, seamlessly incorporating learning into their daily lives.

 

Additionally, while offering affordable education, it’s also vital that the courses institutions provide give learners a quality education. At Penn Foster, designing courses that are skills-based and outcome-driven is a top priority for our learning design.

 

Further, it’s more important than ever that learning and coursework truly align to careers and essential workforce skills to help millennials – and learners of other generations – reach their goals. Besides offering a standard curriculum – traditional college degrees, for example, that may not directly align with current in-demand careers – providing access to career-focused programs and certificates can not only help meet millennials desire for education that provides job and financial stability but also provide long-term benefits for institutions.

 

Overall, the results of our survey highlight a significant shift toward education-driven career growth in 2025. With millennials actively seeking flexible, affordable learning opportunities – and online learning viewed more favorably – there are opportunities for schools, employers, and training organizations to appeal to this generation.

 

For institutions, emphasizing affordability and flexibility while continuing to innovate to support lifelong learning and professional growth can go a long way toward attracting new learners.

 

For organizations and employers, providing clear pathways toward advancement and offering education and training opportunities can help retain and attract dedicated workers.

 

With a trusted partner like Penn Foster, your organization can take steps toward supporting millennials’ goals and career advancement through a range of flexible, career-focused online courses. To learn more about Penn Foster or how we can help you, reach out to our team today!

 

 

*Insights gathered from a survey of 314 millennials (26 to 42 year olds) across the United States in January 2025.