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

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) , Motherly
and the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)
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.

CAREER OPTIMISM INDEX®
A comprehensive study of American workers’ career perceptions

The 2025 Career Optimism Index® study reveals a workforce struggling with record-high burnout, declining autonomy, and widespread workplace discontent. Despite these challenges, employers continue to prioritize external hires over investing in their existing teams, overlooking the potential of their workforce. This approach leaves both workers and organizations grappling with stalled growth and unaddressed skills gaps.





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.

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.

More insights about career perceptions
Provost and Chief Academic Officer John Woods discusses the work of the University of Phoenix Career Institute®

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