Some 56 per cent of young people are concerned about their job prospects, feeling it is difficult to get the experience they need to get a job they want, according to a report by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and EY Foundation.
These factors affect those from lower-socio economic groups, who are considerably more likely than their peers to lack confidence in getting a job locally (33 per cent compared to 25 per cent).
Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of young people have the ambition to lead a team, with a lack of awareness of local opportunities meaning that many look further afield for challenging roles, finds the study of 1,510 16 to 21-year-olds in the UK.
Two in five (40 per cent) of 16-21-year olds aspire to become the boss of a company, 63 per cent would like to lead a team, and 37 per cent would like to start their own business.
Ann Francke, chief executive of CMI, says that young people aspire to become leaders but it’s currently luck of the draw whether they get the necessary chances to learn how.
‘We need employers and educators to help the next generations to develop practical skills and confidence from a younger age.
‘If we are to succeed in creating regional powerhouses outside London then we must have home-grown leaders. Making management and leadership skills part of the school curriculum will help bridge the gap between employers and the next generation of workers.’
Job prospects bleak for those from low-income households
Maryanne Matthews, chief executive of EY Foundation, adds that young people are saying there is a disconnect between having experience(s) of work and the confidence to get a job, especially if they come from a low-income household.
‘And while we are hearing that many employers, schools and colleges across the country are doing great things and offering inspiring experiences of work, there are still too many young people who are not getting this access – and they are calling for it!
‘We want every young person, in every region across the UK to have the same systematic and high-quality experiences of work with local employers. Greater levels of collaboration are needed to fix this, and that’s what the recommendations in this report are all about.’
Further reading on youngsters and business
