This article aims to identify the mutual relationship between the awareness of the importance of mathematical competencies for the acquisition of work-related skills and the perceived importance of the latter for performance in future work and successful participation in the labor market. How these issues relate to math anxiety is also explored. The above is examined on a sample of university students in the selected education institution (HEI) N =297 in the Czech Republic in 2022. Subsequently, a series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with the students in 2023. It was found that by improving work-related skills for a future career, math anxiety increases. A crucial finding is up to 47 % of the perceived importance of competencies for future job performance can be explained by understanding the importance of mathematics for their acquisition. The findings of this study have the potential to contribute to the improvement of mathematics education and the development of a more skilled and capable workforce, which can ultimately lead to greater economic growth and social progress. In addition, this article contains practical recommendations on how to use these findings in the practice of mathematics education not only in the selected higher education institution.