University of Phoenix Career Institute®

Our Career Institute was established to empower all workers and learners by addressing career barriers through research-driven solutions and meaningful partnerships.

Celebrating 5 years of impact and counting

Jobs for the Future, Center on Rural Innovation and Motherly logos

Driving research for career advancement

Housed within the University's College of Doctoral Studies, the Institute conducts impactful research and collaborates with leading organizations such as Jobs for the Future (JFF) opens in new window, Motherly opens in new window and the Center for Rural Innovation (CORI) opens in new window to explore broad and persistent barriers to career growth. Through annual studies like the Career Optimism Index® and targeted reports, including the Mothers Overcome More® (M.O.M.™) and Generating Rural Opportunities in the Workplace™ (G.R.O.W.™), the Institute shares actionable insights to inform solutions.

Jobs for the Future, Center on Rural Innovation and Motherly logos

CAREER OPTIMISM INDEX®

A comprehensive study of American workers’ career perceptions

Career Optimism Index logo

The 2024 Career Optimism Index® study finds that workers and employers are facing a critical moment of talent stagnation. These findings indicate that employers are not looking internally and, thus, overlooking the potential to upskill and elevate their existing workforce to solve business needs, hindering progression for both workers and organizations.

One-third of workers feel unrecognized by company leadership

Workers feel hindered in career advancement without the following...

78 percent of American workers remain hopeful about their career future

Sunset over a rural community
49 percent of workers in rural America say they feel held back in their career because of where they live (versus 30 percent of nonrural workers)

G.R.O.W.™ REPORT

New report reveals keys to rural America's future

Workers living in rural America are more likely to feel held back in their career because of where they live, compared to their nonrural counterparts. The G.R.O.W.™ report explores this reality and opportunities to improve future progress.

Mother holding a cup of coffee and toddler, while looking at a laptop

m.O.m.™ REPORT

Shedding light on the struggles of America's working mothers

Produced in partnership with Motherly, our inaugural M.O.M.™ report takes a comprehensive look at the barriers American mothers face in their day-to-day lives and the impact these barriers have on their career development and advancement opportunities. 

64 percent of lower-income moms say they would like to pursue a career, but it feels out of reach

More insights about career perceptions

White papers

Provost and Chief Academic Officer John Woods discusses the work of the University of Phoenix Career Institute®

A message from University of Phoenix Provost & Chief Academic Officer John Woods


0:00 Hi, I'm Dr. John Woods, provost 0:03 and Chief Academic Officer at University of Phoenix. 0:06 Here we know firsthand through our work 0:09 with diverse adult student populations 0:11 and with employers 0:13 that the career landscape is rapidly changing and evolving. 0:17 While our own research 0:18 through the Career Optimism Index shows that the majority 0:21 of American workers remain hopeful about their careers, 0:25 the tumult of the past several years has created a myriad 0:28 of unprecedented challenges 0:30 for the American workers path towards career advancement, 0:34 and particularly for those who face systemic barriers. 0:38 At University of Phoenix, we have served the adult learner 0:41 for almost 50 years, helping to ignite their human potential 0:45 by building bridges to opportunity. 0:48 This is why in March, 2021, we announced the launch 0:52 of the University of Phoenix Career Institute. Housed within 0:56 our College of Doctoral studies, 0:58 The institute focuses on research to inform problem solving 1:01 around the workplace and career challenges, 1:05 and to forge partnerships with others who seek 1:07 to break down the barriers 1:09 and obstacles Americans face in their careers. 1:12 The Institute's mission is guided 1:14 by the findings from our annual Career Optimism Index, 1:17 the most comprehensive study of its kind 1:20 that identifies career barriers so that institutions know 1:24 how to solve for these. 1:26 And these insights inform our partnerships, allowing us 1:29 to develop cross industry strategies 1:31 to help strengthen the American workforce. 1:34 So why create the Career Institute? 1:36 Because the complex challenges facing American workers today 1:40 require complex solutions. 1:43 While there is much to be optimistic about, 1:45 there is still work to be done to address the skills gap, 1:48 a lack of mentorship opportunities, financial pressures, 1:52 and mental health challenges plaguing the 1:55 American workforce. 1:57 While we work to help students 1:58 with these challenges every day, 2:00 the Career Institute will help us leverage our own expertise 2:04 as a university committed 2:05 to helping working adult students achieve their education 2:08 and career goals while connecting with like-minded partners 2:13 to scale potential solutions to barriers they may face. 2:17 Thank you for your interest in the University 2:19 of Phoenix Career Institute. 2:21 We look forward to keeping you informed 2:23 and engaged in what we learned about barriers 2:26 to career success through research 2:29 and how we can work together to help remove these obstacles 2:32 and help foster career success for all. 2:36 Be well.
University of Phoenix logo

For more information

To learn more about University of Phoenix Career Institute® or the Career Optimism Index®, please contact us at careerinstitute@phoenix.edu.