"Results of this poll demonstrate how critical it is to get work-readiness programs into our schools," said Sean C. Rush, president and chief executive officer of JA Worldwide, a nonprofit that runs three work-readiness programs.

Of all the respondents, 21 percent said "critical thinking and problem solving" was the most important skill in getting a job or pursuring a career. "Creativity and innovation" and "lifelong learning and self-direction" were tied for the second most frequent response with 17 percent of teens identifying these skills.

More than half of all teens surveyed (54 percent) believe they are "extremely likely" or "very likely" to have their ideal job one day, the nationwide Harris Interactive poll found. Such optimism among teens is relatively uniform across gender and age bands but is down significantly from a similar poll in 2000 conducted by Junior Achievement.

The Kids and Careers survey was administered online in December 2007 by Harris Interactive on behalf of Junior Achievement and included responses from 626 teens, ages 13 to 18. The Junior Achievement survey and JA Careers with a Purpose are sponsored by HCA Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation.