Podcast Summary
Youth Competition and Fear: Despite high competition and fear, only 10% of young people believe they have access to a quality job where they live, and many feel unsafe in their communities. These concerns hinder their progress and limit opportunities, especially for those with fewer resources.
Young people today express feelings of high competition and fear regarding the availability of opportunities, both in their local communities and beyond. These concerns extend to various aspects of their lives, including education, employment, and even safety. The Youth Voice Census, an annual project by Youth Employment UK, reveals that only 10% of young people believe there is a quality job for them where they live, and many feel unsafe in their local areas. This fear and competition hinder their progress and limit their opportunities, particularly for those who cannot afford to move or access education and training programs. The consistent worry about the cost of living, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, further complicates the situation. Competition, while sometimes beneficial, can also be detrimental when it leads to excessive stress and anxiety, as was the case in last year's data. It is crucial for employers, educators, and policymakers to address these concerns and work towards creating more equitable opportunities for young people.
Young people's political engagement and confidence: White young men express frustration over perceived unfair opportunities, while young women's confidence increases as they age. Regional inequalities and lack of opportunities may impact white young boys' confidence, but Asian and Asian British respondents show notable confidence gains.
Young people, particularly white men, feel they are being left behind and are expressing frustration and competition due to perceived unfairness in opportunities. This sentiment is influenced by media rhetoric and political discourse. Young people's engagement in politics varies, with those aged 23 being the most likely to vote. Confidence in achieving opportunities decreases for white young boys, while young women's confidence increases as they grow older. The decrease in white young boys' confidence may be due to regional inequalities and a lack of opportunities, but Asian and Asian British respondents have shown a notable increase in confidence despite not always receiving more opportunities.
Perception of being left behind: Focusing too much on helping underrepresented groups may lead to feelings of discrimination and a rise in harassment among those who feel left behind, highlighting the importance of fair opportunity distribution for all
Efforts to provide equal opportunities for underrepresented groups, particularly in education and work, have led to increased confidence among these individuals. However, there is a growing concern that focusing too much on helping specific groups may leave others behind. This perception of being left behind, especially among young white men, has led to feelings of discrimination and a rise in harassment and misogyny. It's essential to understand these concerns and find ways to create a society where opportunities are fairly distributed, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background. Additionally, the impact of austerity and the cost of living crisis on poverty and disadvantage should be explored further, as it may have significantly changed the demographic of those in need of support. Overall, it's crucial to address these issues to build a more inclusive and equitable society.
Barriers to employment for young people: Nearly 40% of young people face mental health challenges as a barrier to employment, and families play a crucial role in supporting them, but many lack the resources and knowledge to effectively help their children navigate the job market
Young people face numerous barriers to employment, including lack of access to work experience, mental health challenges, and historical inequality. Mental health issues are a significant barrier, with nearly 40% of young people surveyed identifying it as a barrier to work. Additionally, families play a crucial role in supporting young people, but many lack the resources and knowledge to effectively help their children navigate the job market. The conversation around family policy and supporting families to help their children succeed is often overlooked. It's important to remember that families are doing more than ever before to support their children, but those without strong family networks face unique challenges. Parents themselves may lack the education and resources to effectively support their children's career aspirations, leading to a lack of engagement in their children's education. Addressing these issues will require a multi-faceted approach, including mental health support, family policy, and education reform.
Workforce preparation gap: Young people feel unprepared for the workforce due to limited work experience opportunities in schools, pressure from parents, and lack of resources, leaving them uncertain about their future employment prospects.
Young people feel unprepared for the workforce due to a lack of meaningful work experience opportunities in schools, despite their desire for it. Parental pressure and limited resources contribute to this issue, with disadvantaged students being less likely to access these opportunities. Additionally, schools are under pressure and lack the time to facilitate these connections, creating a barrier for students seeking work experience. Overall, there is a disconnect between the skills young people learn in school and what employers are looking for, leaving students feeling uncertain about their future employment prospects.
School Work Experience: Effective work experience in schools is essential for students' future success, but requires consistent effort and meaningful experiences from employers, and a formal network between schools and employers to facilitate it.
Providing work experience to young people in schools is crucial for their future success, but there are challenges in making it a consistent and effective part of education. The speaker shared their personal experience of the importance of work experience and how it has evolved over the years. They also emphasized the need for employers to engage with young people and create meaningful experiences, rather than just having them make tea or sit in a corner. The speaker suggested that a formal network between schools and employers is necessary to facilitate these experiences, and criticized the current reliance on charities and social enterprises to provide this service. They argued that it should be a government priority, as it will not only benefit individual students but also contribute to the economy as a whole.
Employment and careers education: Investing in education that prepares young people for the future by focusing on developing resilience, creativity, and the ability to navigate complex job markets, rather than just meeting minimum standards.
While schools can be mandated to devote time to employment and careers education, it's not just about money or meeting minimum standards like the Gatsby benchmarks. Instead, there's a need for dedicated resources and a focus on developing the wider skills young people need to succeed in the changing workforce. These skills include resilience, creativity, and the ability to navigate complex job markets. It's important to remember that young people face unique challenges in accessing employment opportunities, and it's not accurate to assume they don't want to work. Instead, we need to invest in education that prepares them for the future and provides them with the tools they need to succeed.