Youth Unemployment in UK – Transition to work is still inconsistent for many

To be a country that works for everyone, youth unemployment must be addressed.

Consistent and engaging support for young people in school and as they transition through education and employment is key to reducing youth unemployment. This transition is still inconsistent for many young people across the UK. This report highlights the challenges that some young people face when trying to move from education into employment, what is working well and our recommendations.

This inquiry prompted a number of submissions and it is encouraging to see the interest and good work taking place. Several key themes were highlighted.

Consistency and Quality Careers Advice: A lack of a clear careers advice and guidance policy means that young people are not informed about all career routes. There is also a recognition of needing better support to understand local labour market needs and the job market in general.

Work Experience: With placements being challenging to access young people are struggling to get work experience, and employers are struggling to engage schools and young people directly.

Networking and Mentoring: there is a lack of guidance on soft skills, employability skills, and networking opportunities within some sections of the community creating a mismatch between employers and young people.

A big focus of the report has been around updating the information, provision and support offered by our schools from at least year 7 but it is recognised that there needs to be a tailored approach to young people’s needs. Ensuring that good and consistent support is offered in schools but that some young people face complex and very individual challenges needing intensive support to help them move into employment. Young people also need to know where to access the right support if they become unemployed after leaving school.

The recommendations of this report are:

Clearer, better Careers advice

• To redesign the careers education strategy so that all young people have access to good quality, impartial careers information, this should have with it clear measures and penalties if the provision is not met.
• Join up careers activity from government departments and government funded organisations such as Careers and Enterprise Company, National Careers Service, Inspiration Agenda, JCP School Support and the National Citizens Service.
• To ensure that young people with additional and complex needs have face to face qualified support at a local level to help them to progress.

Work Experience

• To provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people for structured experiences of work and volunteering.

Networking & Mentoring

• For government to work with businesses, young people and educators to review the skills and experiences young people need to develop so that they can move successfully into employment.
• Establishing an employability framework to understand the core skills and competencies employers are looking for.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at  Inquiry into pathways from education to employment