Young people’s early experiences of work can shape their future employment, earnings and progression. With around one million young people not in education, employment or training, creating more opportunities is urgent. Employers have a vital role to play, but recruitment depends both on the opportunities available and on young people being able to take them up.
This report draws on a survey of more than 1,000 HR decision makers to examine employers’ plans to recruit young people, the routes they expect to use, the barriers they face, and the support they need.
The findings show appetite but uneven opportunity:
- One quarter (24%) of employers expect to recruit more young people, compared with 12% expecting to recruit fewer.
- Large and newer businesses are more likely to be expanding recruitment, suggesting that opportunities for young people will be unevenly distributed across the labour market.
- Employers favour direct recruitment, work experience and apprenticeships, while expected use of the Youth Guarantee is low.
- Barriers differ by employer outlook: employers planning to expand recruitment are more likely to highlight workplace readiness and practical support needs, while those reducing recruitment are more concerned about costs and policy uncertainty. Employers who are not recruiting young people report a lack of suitable roles.
- Financial incentives are the measure employers most often say would help, but the evidence points to a broader package: workplace exposure and preparation for young people; practical guidance, confidence and capability for smaller employers; stable policy; and collective action by employers and sector bodies.
- The findings suggest that capability and capacity matter alongside cost in determining whether employers create opportunities for young people.
This is the first in a regular series of employer insights produced by Learning and Work Institute for The St Martin’s Group. The series will provide timely, up to date evidence on current skills and employment to inform policy as it develops.
