More than half (56%) of young people aged 16 to 25 are concerned they lack the skills, experience or qualifications to pursue the career they want, according to the King’s Trust Youth Index report.
The report published last Thursday (27 February) was used to gauge the happiness and confidence of young people across the UK, ranging from working life to mental and physical health.
The Youth Index also found that one in five (39%) young people said they have, or had, no idea how to find a job when leaving school.
HR professionals play an important role in assisting young people into the workforce, according to James Uffindell, CEO of careers platform Bright Network.
He told HR magazine: “Employers and HR professionals can play a significant role in supporting young people by clearly communicating the skills they value, such as resilience, strong communication and a passion for the business.”
Uffindell stated that Bright Network’s What Do Graduates Want 2024/25 report showed that there is a disconnect between what employers prioritise, such as soft skills, and what young people believe matters most; many overestimate the need for prior industry experience.
Read more: How HR can support young people to thrive at work
HR professionals can assist young people in starting careers by focusing more on soft skills when hiring, rather than focusing on traditional degrees and industry experience, according to Michael Caley-Cook, senior manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) at workforce solutions firm, AMS.
Caley-Cook told HR magazine: “When it comes to getting young people into work, taking a more skills-based approach opens a much broader talent pool, makes a significant impact on promoting social mobility and encourages internal career development, as well as expanding employees’ skills base.
“Skills-based hiring is a major tool in helping organisations be better prepared for future challenges, as opposed to hiring a specific type of person from a type of background or education.”
Caley-Cook also added that work experience is key when helping young people get into the workforce. He advised that HR professionals should work within their local communities and schools to offer work experience to young people.
On a national level, HR and employers should work with organisations that are leading the way with providing young people with the career guidance they need, he said.
Read more: Over-55s left behind in skills training
One third (30%) of young people stated that they have experienced a mental health problem due to being unemployed, the Youth Index report revealed. Just over half (53%) of young people reported that the longer they are unemployed, the worse they feel about themselves.
The struggle to secure employment often affects young people from low-income backgrounds disproportionally, according to Lynne Peabody, CEO of the EY Foundation, an organisation helping young people into their careers.
Speaking to HR magazine, she said: “The Youth Index data shows again that young people from a low-income background disproportionately struggle to secure employment and experience lower levels of wellbeing. From over a decade of experience of working with young people growing up in poverty, we know change is possible.”
She added: “Employers who provide opportunities for meaningful, paid work experience will transform a young person’s confidence and prospects for employment.”