1 in 6 young people are out of work or education

A recent report found that 1 million young people, aged 16 to 24, are not in education, employment or training.

We are now seeing the impact of a generation of young people who have not had consistent access to basic work skills and experience. This is creating a growing gap in the number of people who feel ready and able to enter the workforce successfully and have started to lose direction and momentum in looking for work. Before employment can be successful, people need support to rebuild confidence, gain an experience of a working week, and develop the understanding and resilience needed for the workplace.

We work with highly capable, intelligent individuals who want to work and are able to work. What is needed is a more planned and supportive approach to re-engaging the next generation of workers, one that gives people the time and confidence to succeed long term.

At Steps to Work, we take the pressure away from securing a job immediately. Instead, we focus on building the core skills and foundations of employability. We work closely with trainees and employer partners to match people based on their abilities and the requirements of the role and recognise that employers also need support. Businesses are increasingly expected to recruit and retain young people who may require additional guidance and understanding of workplace expectations whilst balancing the other pressures of running a business. At Steps to Work, we recognise that successful employment outcomes require support on both sides. A key part of our work is building strong partnerships with employers so we can understand the negotiables and non- negotiables of what they are looking for, whist offering direct support and carefully matching trainees to suitable opportunities. This creates better outcomes for both and is why, last year, 69% of our trainees entered paid employment. 

We often work outside of traditional recruitment practices, recognising that standard application and interview processes can create unnecessary barriers for young people with limited experience. Instead, we support employers to think differently about recruitment and to focus on potential, attitude, and transferable strengths rather than previous employment history. Introducing young people to industry and the workplace environment in the first instance is incredibly important. We offer exposure to real working environments, helping develop understanding of workplace expectations, and giving young people the opportunity to discover where their skills and interests fit best.

Most young people want to work and can work, they just need the initial introduction to take that first step.

At Steps to Work, we are hopeful that the challenges facing young people are now being recognised at a higher level. Many young people want to work and are fully capable of working but have not had consistent access to workplace experience, the right introduction to industry or the support needed to navigate the job market. 

Highlighting these issues and providing support for both young people and employers is crucial to improving long-term employment outcomes. Real change starts with recognising the issue and investing in supportive pathways into employment.