ZAGREB, 13 Aug (Hina) – Only 17% of Croatians work in the job they dreamed of as children, with the most frequently mentioned professions being in education, social care, and IT, according to a survey published on Tuesday by the MojPosao job search portal.

The survey, titled “Are You Doing the Job You Wanted as a Child?” was conducted by Alma Career Croatia, which manages the MojPosao portal, and involved more than 750 respondents.

The survey results revealed that only 17% of the respondents work in the profession they envisioned in their childhood, with popular professions including those in education, social care, and IT, such as occupational therapists, teachers, physiotherapists, and programmers.

On the other hand, more than half of the respondents, 51%, admitted that they were unable to achieve their childhood dreams and regret it.

Some respondents reported that their parents “redirected” their careers toward something they neither wanted nor had the necessary skills for, while others abandoned their dreams over time, citing unfavorable circumstances and environment as obstacles.

Approximately 23% of the respondents highlighted that they do not work in the job they desired as children, but they consider this a positive outcome.

As they explained, over time they realised they wanted to build a career in a completely different field. Among their childhood dreams were professions such as astronaut, tram driver, police officer, soldier, professional musician, and dancer.

According to the survey, 9% of the respondents claim that their current job is their true passion and that they wouldn’t change a thing.