Bitget has published a report on the barriers facing people seeking their first job in Web3. The study found that access to hiring, rather than talent shortages, is the sector's main workforce problem.
More than 54% of respondents identified prior experience requirements for junior roles as the biggest obstacle to entering the sector. Another 52% said their education provided theoretical knowledge but not the practical skills needed to secure work.
The findings point to a gap between the expansion of blockchain education and the availability of entry routes into employment. Many aspiring and early-career professionals remain unable to turn training and interest into a first role.
The research, conducted under the company's Blockchain4Youth initiative, focused on aspiring and early-career workers across several regions. It found that Web3 continues to attract a well-qualified talent pool, with more than 58% of participants holding bachelor's, master's, or PhD degrees.
Age data suggested the sector is attracting workers at the start of their careers. Nearly 46% of respondents were aged 23 to 30.
Emerging markets
One of the clearest patterns in the survey was the concentration of interest in emerging markets. Nigeria, Indonesia, and China accounted for nearly half of all respondents, underlining how blockchain education and career ambitions are spreading beyond established technology centres.
This trend matters for an industry that has often framed its workforce challenge as a shortage of specialised talent. The report argues instead that the issue is access to jobs and work experience, even as large numbers of educated candidates seek entry into the market.
Gracy Chen, Chief Executive Officer at Bitget, said: "The industry has succeeded in attracting talent globally. The challenge now is converting talent into employment. The findings show there is a large pool of motivated and educated candidates, but many are struggling to take the first step into the industry. Closing this gap will be critical for the next phase of industry growth."
Career interests
The report also examined which parts of the market are attracting the strongest interest from jobseekers. AI and blockchain convergence emerged as the most popular path, chosen by 61% of respondents.
The result suggests career ambitions are shifting alongside broader changes in digital finance and software development. As companies explore the overlap between artificial intelligence tools and blockchain-based products, interest from prospective workers appears to be moving in the same direction.
Even so, respondents indicated that enthusiasm for the sector is not enough to overcome the lack of practical exposure. Almost two-thirds, or 62%, said mentorship from experienced professionals would be the support most likely to help their careers progress.
This emphasis on mentorship reinforces the report's broader argument that education alone is not solving the entry problem. Participants pointed to a need for structured links between learning, industry guidance, and actual hiring opportunities.
Learning pathways
Bitget linked the report to its own education and workforce programmes. Its Blockchain4Youth Learning Hub, which covers blockchain basics, decentralised finance, industry topics, and newer technologies, has passed 10,000 registered learners worldwide.
Those who complete the programme receive a certificate that can be used for priority review for selected opportunities within Bitget and the Blockchain4Youth Talent Alliance. The process is intended to connect training more directly with job pathways.
Other initiatives mentioned alongside the report include educational partnerships, career-focused schemes, and mentorship efforts designed to help younger workers enter the Web3 labour market. These measures were presented as part of a broader effort to reduce the mismatch between education and employment.
The study concluded that stronger collaboration between education providers, employers, learning platforms, and industry participants will be needed if the sector wants to widen access to work. It argued that the next phase of Web3 workforce growth will depend less on finding interested candidates than on creating realistic routes into first jobs.
More than 54% of respondents identified experience requirements for junior positions as the biggest barrier, making entry-level hiring the central issue highlighted by the report.