The recent Young People and Work: Interim Report (“YPW Report”) paints a worrying picture of how the education, health, and government systems as well as the job market are failing our young people. Nearly one million young people 16 to 24 in the UK are NEET (Not In Education, Employment or Training), 10% of that age group. 60% of those are economically inactive.
Young people are not just unemployed but not looking for work. They feel ignored and not valued by employers and institutions, and lack the confidence to pursue opportunities.
This is not an issue of education but a structural one where the labour market is not absorbing them. 30% of NEET get good GCSEs or equivalent, over 21% have a Level 3 qualification and 15% a degree.
Young people describe careers advice as generic and useless, 81% felt the current curriculum is too focused on passing exams, and 67% that it failed to prepare them for work.NEET are not “lazy” 84% want to find a job, education or training. Employers are not hostile to young people but young applicants are not coming to them with what they need. This feeds a cycle of disaffection and lack of confidence in young people,
“[Work is] about connection. It is about self-respect. It is about independence. For young people especially, the first steps into work are often the first steps into adult life.” (YPW Report) The major issue faced by young people is knowing what is out there and how to get into it:
“..so many young people are kept in the dark about the full range of options open to them…” Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Settlor of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation
“I think they should explore a lot more opportunities and make students aware that it’s not always this linear path of you have to do school and then college and university and then you get to a dream career.” (Woman, age 24 – YPW Report)
This lack of understanding can lead to thoughts of “people like me don’t get jobs like that” which reinforces the lack of confidence faced by many young people. It also results in them making decisions that undervalue their desires and aspirations:
“At one point I was really interested in engineering but I didn’t know what it was to do with so I decided not to take that.” (Luca, age 14 – Working Eye)
Our research reinforces the criticism of careers education as generic and unfocused:
“It would be more effective if we could do it ourselves rather than being told what to do.” (Helena, age 13 – Working Eye)
At Working Eye we believe in the power of Discovery to open young people up to the possibilities in the world of work, and to give them the tools they need to achieve their desires and aspirations.
Young people and work: interim report – GOV.UK
#NEET #careersadvice #DWP
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