Youth Employment in 2024: the opportunities and challenges facing young people
This article was written by Youth Employment UK.
The Youth Voice Census is an annual temperature check on how young people in the UK feel about work, education and prospects. It was built with and for young people, and it continues to be a place that they trust to share what’s really happening in their lives.
Today, it is the largest data set of youth voices in the UK, with over 5,000 young people aged 11 - 30 sharing their experiences in 2024. The report findings provide key insight into the support, opportunities and issues they are currently facing.
The current opportunities and challenges facing young people in the UK
The reality is that some of the challenges young people identified are not new; they’re part of a really challenging narrative. Anxiety, safety, discrimination and financial concerns are the biggest worries for young people right now, causing them to feel unprepared for their future in a system that is set against them.
Added to this is a lack of local connectivity forcing young people to compromise on cost, safety and location, with access to fewer local services and enrichment opportunities than ever before because they do not exist or because transport is unreliable/unsafe.
Their lack of confidence in access to good opportunities for education, training or employment is a growing trend, with young people feeling more confident about having the skills they need to look for work, but with 1 in 5 still unsure if they will be able to progress into quality work.
Where quality work exists for young people, it’s a positive experience, especially for apprentices. However, we are seeing lower work satisfaction this year, with money and location being clear key factors in addition to pressure and uncertainty. There is more work to be done in defining quality work and supporting a successful transition into work.
Young people believe that if they are heard and can access the services and support they are entitled to, they will be more able to progress into their next steps.
Reducing barriers with supported internships
The Youth Voice Census was supplemented with qualitative insights from in-person focus groups. Youth Employment UK spoke to 9 young people who had recently taken part in a supported internship and shared their experiences.
The importance of local opportunities
Some young people shared they were unhappy with the services in their area, highlighting litter and the inconsistency of public transport. Many felt that travelling long distances for work would not suit them; local opportunities had been sourced for their supported internships which is something they really valued.
The impact supported internships have on young people
Those who had already started their supported internship had found the experience hugely positive as it had helped them to develop skills for their future, particularly communication, customer service and digital skills. They expressed how they felt included, and how their supported internship helped them transition into a work environment and they felt more prepared for their next steps. The help they received from their work coach was extremely positive, with the support with job applications, interviews and confidence building being key. Without this support, they felt they would have lacked confidence in their ability to take their next steps independently.
What actions can we take to improve experiences for young people?
- Ensure that opportunities to access youth provision, sports, volunteering and other forms of enrichment are accessible to young people where they live.
- Ensure young people are better able to share their voices on what they need to progress. Commit to making the services around young people work by ensuring that EHCP plans, mental health services, care support, and support with housing are available when they need it.
- Build the Young Person’s Guarantee at a hyper local level. Ensure that there are quality training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for young people where they live and that barriers such as transport and costs are removed.
- Encourage employers to understand their role in developing good quality opportunities for young people, recognising the Good Youth Employment Standards and encouraging employers to measure their activity with the Good Youth Employment Benchmark.
The Youth Voice Census collects the experiences of young people aged 11 - 30 in the UK every year and reopens in March 2025.
More information on Supported Internships
About Youth Employment UK
Founded in 2012 by Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE DL, Youth Employment UK is an independent, not-for-profit social enterprise tackling youth unemployment. Utilising membership, Youth Employment UK helps employers across the UK adhere to the Good Youth Employment Standards to attract and retain young talent.
Alongside employer membership, Youth Employment UK has a range of resources, including Young Professional training courses for those aged 14-17+, lesson plans for educators and advice for parents.