Amid mass layoffs, AI is making students switch careers. Top 5 fields seeing biggest shift revealed in new survey

A growing number of college students are starting to rethink what they study, and it is not happening in isolation. The shift comes at a time when artificial intelligence is changing hiring patterns and, at the same time, layoffs in parts of the tech sector have made job security feel less certain than before.

A new survey conducted by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, based on responses from around 3,800 students, shows that these concerns are already influencing decisions on campus. About 16% of students said they have changed their major because of AI’s potential impact on jobs. Alongside that, nearly half, 47%, said they have at least considered switching their field of study.

Dr. Courtney Brown, vice president of impact and planning at Lumina Foundation, told Business Insider, "This is one of the clearest signals we've seen that students are rethinking what their futures are in response to AI."

AI Pressure Is Reaching Classrooms

The data suggests that AI is not just a distant idea for students anymore. It is shaping how they think about careers even before they graduate. Around 42% of bachelor’s degree students and 56% of associate degree students said AI has made them seriously think about changing their major.

This shift is also linked to what students are seeing in the job market. In recent years, early-career roles in AI-exposed sectors like software development and clerical work have seen noticeable declines, while more experienced roles have remained relatively stable. That gap seems to be making younger students more cautious.

At the same time, AI is also influencing why some students choose to go to college in the first place. Around one in seven students said preparing for AI or dealing with its impact on jobs was part of their reason for enrolling.

The Top Fields Students Are Moving Into

Among students who actually switched their majors, the survey points to five key fields where most of them are landing. The numbers show a pattern, though not a uniform one.

1. Social Sciences (26%)
This is the largest share. Many students appear to be moving toward areas that deal with human behavior, policy, and society, possibly seeing them as less directly replaceable by automation.

2. Business (17%)
Business-related courses continue to attract students, especially as companies look for people who can work alongside AI tools rather than be replaced by them.

3. Technology (13%)
Even with uncertainty, tech is still a major draw. But here, the movement is mixed — some are entering while others are leaving.

4. Vocational and Skilled Trades (noted as a major shift area)
Students in vocational programs are among the most likely to switch, and also among those most affected by AI concerns.

5. AI-Focused and Software Engineering Paths (emerging trend)
Separate data from Niche shows that interest is shifting within tech itself. Traditional programming is seeing a drop in interest, while AI-focused roles and software engineering are gaining attention.

Not All Fields Are Seeing an Exit

Interestingly, not every discipline is being affected in the same way. Students in healthcare and natural sciences are among the least likely to change their majors due to AI concerns. Humanities fields are also seeing relatively lower movement.

"I don't think students are seeing that AI is going to replace those," Brown said.

At the same time, some universities are beginning to rethink how traditional subjects are taught, especially by adding AI-related components to humanities and liberal arts courses.

Even with all this movement, experts say AI is not the only factor driving decisions. Traditional reasons like better pay, skill development, and career stability still matter more for most students.