Gen Z driving a nationwide resurgence of interest in accounting

By Jessica Barboza, OSCPA content specialist

In the midst of a growing national accounting talent shortage, with a forecasted 65% of Ohio CPAs approaching retirement , the profession is looking to Gen Z to fill the gaps. Although traditionally stereotyped by some as an unattractive career path, Gen Z is seemingly seeing it in a different light.

According to recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2025 spring undergraduate accounting enrollment has surged 12% at 4-year institutions and 24% at two-year institutions compared to 2024, leading to growing optimism that Gen Z will mend the talent gap in the profession.

The trend is gaining momentum locally as well. According to Anne Farrell, chair of the Department of Accountancy at Miami University, enrollment for undergraduate and graduate (MAcc) accounting programs has surged by nearly 50% since the 2021-2022 academic year. Over the same period, the number of students declaring an Accountancy minor jumped by 115%.

Messages highlighting career flexibility, job security, dynamic work, technological improvements and universal trust in the profession have resonated with Gen Z, Farrell said.

"There’s no question that both prospective and current college students increasingly see the value of accountancy to their careers, no matter what paths they want to follow,” Farrell said. “At recruiting events for high school students, a few years ago just a handful would stop by to ask about accountancy programs; at this year’s events we were happy to be swarmed!”

Farrell said she credits a lot of that to work to what the profession has done to bust myths about accounting.

Farrell also noted a noticeable uptick in interest from Gen Z following the passage of House Bill 238 earlier this year, which opened up new pathways to licensure for aspiring CPAs in Ohio. She’s received more inquiries from both high school students and current students in other majors, many of whom are now considering switching to accounting or adding it as a double major.

What makes Gen Z different?

Coming into their careers during a period of economic uncertainty, much of Gen Z is experiencing heightened precarity, causing a demand for career paths that can promise job security.

According to a 2023 survey by Handshake, 74% of Gen Zs report high starting salary and job stability as their top priorities when choosing a job.

“I chose accounting as my career focus because of the enticing growth opportunities and ability to open different career paths in the future,” Rico Levak, a recent accounting graduate of Walsh University, said. “Not to mention the fact that it is one of the most in need industries at the current moment.”

Flexibility and fast growth

Logan Steele, an accounting professor at Oregon State University, reports that 98% of accounting graduates at the university secure jobs in the field, adding that their salaries are the highest in recorded history of any major program in the business school.

“There are so many different paths to explore, each offering unique opportunities for career growth and meaningful connections,” Ammryn Roberts, a recent graduate of Ohio Northern University, said. “That variety is what drew me to accounting in the first place."

Gen Z and purpose-driven work

How do we ensure that we keep the numbers up? We immerse them in work that is meaningful. Gen Z craves connection. With many living out their early adulthood in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have had to navigate pivotal moments, such as higher education and their first jobs, in more isolated environments than generations before them.

Following the increase in use of AI language models, many accounting professionals have shared that the profession has evolved to be more relational than the historical narrative of handwritten spreadsheets suggests.

According to an article published in Yahoo Finance, many Gen Z aspiring CPAs are “increasingly viewing accounting not as a monotonous chore but as a way to transform people’s lives.”

Programs like the IRS’s VITA allow young accounting professionals to get out of the classroom and help everyday Americans file their taxes.

According to Yahoo Finance, in 2024, over 280 students at California State University helped over 9,000 low-income taxpayers claim nearly $11 million in tax refunds, $3.6 million in tax credits and saved them over $2 million in tax preparation fees.

“Today, accounting is far from the tedious, stereotypical desk job portrayed on TV,” said Trevor Tiemeyer, a recent graduate of Xavier University. “Gen Z brings fresh passion, creativity and purpose to the field, shaping it to align with our values and ambitions.”

The Ohio Society of CPAs’ Look Beyond campaign is designed to reframe how Gen Z and emerging professionals perceive the accounting profession, showcasing the dynamic, purpose-driven roles CPAs play in industries like sports, entertainment, tech and entrepreneurship. Interested in expanding Ohio’s CPA pipeline and strengthening the profession for generations to come? Visit ohiocpa.com/look-beyond to learn how to get involved.

Jessica Barboza, content specialist, The Ohio Society of CPAs