Within the last week we have seen the launch of two new reports exploring work experience with The Key Group finding that 147,000 Year 10 pupils, fewer than half, actually do work experience. In addition, the Speakers for Schools ‘Assumed Knowledge’ report lays clear the disadvantage that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds face.
Both reports build on the research gathered by Youth Employment UK over the last 12 years, but in particular the Youth Voice Census. Our annual report has asked young people about their opportunities for work experience for the last 7 years.
In 2024 more than 5,000 young people aged 11-30 took part in the Census and some of the key findings relating to work experience are:
- 36% of young people in secondary school had access to work experience
- Of that 36% only 38% of young people had work experience in a job that they were interested in
- 51% of young people had help to find work experience
- 67% of young people stated their work experience was good/excellent
- Those young people who are Black African, Black British or Caribbean, care experienced or those with additional needs and eligibility for free school meals are often the groups receiving less opportunity
- Cost, access and safety of travel plays a big part in what young people can access, and where you live really matters
We understand the importance of work experience, it is often the only time young people get to really experience what it is like to be at work before making their Post-16 education choices, and that can feel like a lot to choose your study/apprenticeship options without having experienced any form of work to know if those choices are right for you.
It is also a key time to build some of those critical work skills (employability, essential, soft, so many names!) before you begin to apply for your first paid roles. Often employers are looking for examples of when you have used or shown your work-skills as a selection criteria at interviews. So without any work experience this can be a real barrier for that all important first job.
The inequality of work experience is also deeper than just volume. We know that some of the most marginalised young people who benefit the most from good quality work experience are often the least likely to get it. Where schools are asking young people to find their own placements, this comes at a cost for those young people who do not have that social capital. Driving further inequalities in socio-economic, ethnicity, and special education needs groups.
The impact of work experience is played out in the Census where we can see that:
- 74% of young people believe work experience helps them to build useful skills and 73% think it helps them to understand what it feels like to be at work
- For 67% of young people they said that work experience helps you make decisions about your future
- Across the board only 36% of young people think they understand the skills employers are looking for, it is more likely that these are the young people who have had work experience
So it is a real and significant problem that so few young people are being given the option for work experience. The impact on their confidence and next step choices is acutely affected. Young people this year feel less confident across all employability skills than last year, and only 1 in 10 young people think that they can find a good job where they live.
The Labour Party Manifesto committed to providing two weeks work experience for all young people and this is an important promise that does need to be kept. However, we along with many others do not believe that it is a fixed two week period that is important. Having many experiences of different roles, industries and engagements with the world of work is where the magic is, boosting young people’s experiences and the quality of those experiences is what matters here.
Youth Employment UK CEO, Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE DL, was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Gloucestershire today to discuss whether school work experience is declining and what can be done to address it. Go to our LinkedIn to hear a snippet of the interview.
In the discussion, Laura-Jane highlighted key solutions to creating quality work experiences and providing meaningful touchpoints with the world of work. She also focused on tackling the inequality of access for young people, particularly those from hard-to-reach communities.
At Youth Employment UK we have been working with young people and employers for 12+ years to understand what good work is, including good work experience. Our employer Members have access to a wide range of resources, guides and webinars exploring best practice. Our Good Youth Employment Benchmark captures the evidence of what works and doesn’t work in the areas of work experience and employment.
To find out more about how we create good quality experiences for all young people please get in touch with the team at info@youthemployment.org.uk
