This panel presents initial findings from an ongoing international research project on youth, religion, and spirituality carried out by the Footprints: Young People. Expectations, Ideals and Beliefs research group, coordinated by the Pontifical University of Santa Croce. Based on survey data collected from more than 9,000 young people in nine countries across four continents, the project examines how younger generations relate work and education to their personal values, moral outlooks, and religious or spiritual beliefs. The panel focuses on young people's understandings of work, considering it not only as a means of economic participation but also as a sphere of meaning, social engagement, and civic responsibility. Special attention is paid to the role of values and convictions in shaping attitudes toward professional life, educational pathways, and career decisions. By placing work within wider horizons of belief and meaning, the panel offers a comparative perspective on how young people navigate uncertainty, aspirations, and ethical tensions in contemporary societies. The discussion will highlight emerging patterns from the study and reflect on their significance for current debates on youth, work, and spirituality, as well as for the future development of this global research project.