This is the final of six reports published to inform the ‘Youth Commission’: the Commission on Education and Employment Opportunities for Young People. The Youth Commission considered the current education and employment prospects for young people, and the likely impact of changes in policy and the labour market.
The Youth Commission proposed new ideas for ensuring all young people have access to opportunity. It was kindly supported by Association of Colleges, Capital City Colleges Group, London South Bank University, NOCN and Prospects. Its commissioners were: Kate Green MP (until June 2020), Maggie Galliers CBE, Amy King and Jo Maher.
The Youth Commission has explored the impact of these inequalities on young people’s life chances. Across five research reports we have demonstrated that we lag other countries on many measures and progress has stalled. Participation in higher education compares more favourably, but fewer young people have basic skills or level 2 or 3 qualifications than other countries and the pandemic has led to a spike in unemployment.
Our research has shown that profound economic and social changes, particularly the collision of advances in technology and lengthening working lives, make a sound platform of skills and flexible opportunities to learn ever more essential. We have heard from young people about what they feel makes a difference, where support is not currently working, and the ideas they have for improvements.
This final sixth report sets out our blueprint for change. It calls for urgent action to tackle the youth employment crisis and a higher ambition for education and employment, benchmarked against the world’s best to build back better.
This will require investment. Our recommendations require an extra £4.6 billion per year, a 22% increase on pre-crisis spending but an investment that will ultimately pay for itself. It also requires a more joined-up approach. We recommend a greater role for local government in building a coherent system, reforms to benefits to improve back-to-work support, a clear focus on the basics of literacy, numeracy and digital, and a new Career Advancement Service to help young people turbocharge their careers.
We need employers to prioritise giving opportunities to young people, their future talent pipeline.
