AI-driven career guidance: comparing Nigerian undergraduate and postgraduate perceptions

Abstract The rapid evolution of global workforce demands, particularly in Nigeria, where unemployment remains high despite significant educational advancements, has brought to the fore the need for people to align their career aspirations with the opportunities and industrial needs within the country. While traditional career guidance services in the country have struggled to help individuals achieve tangible results in career choices and development, Artificial Intelligence-driven career guidance has emerged as a viable alternative. This research investigates how Nigerian students perceive AI-driven personalized career guidance services, identifying factors influencing their adoption and providing insights for technology developers and policymakers. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, data were collected through a close-ended questionnaire administered to Nigerian students. Three hundred and forty-one participants, either undergraduate or postgraduate students in Nigeria, completed the survey. A descriptive analysis and independent t-test were conducted to examine and compare the perceptions of undergraduate and postgraduate students regarding career guidance and the adoption of AI-driven personalized career guidance. The results show that postgraduate students(M = 4.53, SD = 0.65) exhibit significantly greater confidence in making informed career decisions than undergraduates (M = 4.29, SD = 0.83). Additionally, both undergraduate (M = 4.00, SD = 0.82) and postgraduate students (M = 4.05, SD = 0.90) reported being comfortable with and trusting AI platforms for recommendations regarding their future career paths and development. Notably, no significant difference was found between male and female undergraduate students (males: M = 3.91, SD = 0.86; females: M = 3.90, SD = 0.83) and postgraduate students (female: M = 4.08, SD = 0.85; male: M = 3.95, SD = 1.10) regarding their perception of the effectiveness, importance, and satisfaction with personalized career guidance services. However, participants reported low satisfaction with current career guidance and significant challenges in accessing information about programs during the application process. Given these findings, we recommend the development of accessible, user-friendly, and adaptable AI platforms that address the specific needs of the current and future Nigerian workforce. We also recommend that government agencies, policymakers, and private sector organizations collaborate to facilitate the development of these AI-driven career-guidance platforms.