Economic conditions, financial markets and decisions made by businesses, investors and governments can all influence the world students are studying, where jobs are created, which industries attract investment and where new opportunities emerge. Why do companies invest in some areas and pull back from others? What makes investors optimistic about one industry and wary of another? Why can stock markets rise when the economic outlook appears weak? And what can developments in AI, trade and technology tell us about where the economy – and opportunities for the next generation – might be heading?

We are in a time of significant economic, political and technological uncertainty. Entry-level and graduate opportunities have fallen sharply as higher interest rates and slower growth have weighed on hiring, businesses face pressure to control costs, and AI begins to reshape some of the work traditionally performed by junior employees. Whether you are at the beginning of your studies or starting to think about what comes next, understanding the forces behind these changes is becoming increasingly important. 

This Financial Times webinar will bring together FT journalists and experts in economics, markets and business to help connect academic studies with the economic forces shaping the world around us. Using real-world examples, the discussion will explore how businesses and markets respond to change, what these shifts could mean for different industries and future opportunities, and how understanding these forces can complement what is being taught in the classroom. The programme will also help participants make better sense of the financial, business and economic news they encounter – and understand why it matters both now and for the future.

Understand

How economic conditions and political decisions shape where professional opportunities emerge, and how this has manifested in recent years

Connect

Hear directly from FT journalists and leading economists to gain valuable insights you can take forward in your studies and beyond 

Discover

The academic and professional benefits of understanding the economic forces at play in today’s changing world

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