The Prince’s Trust Natwest Youth Index 2024

The Prince’s Trust have released their annual research report ‘The Prince’s Trust Natwest Youth Index 2024’. This report is based on a YouGov survey of 2,239 16 to 25-year-olds that looks into young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas. 

The findings of this year’s index demonstrate how the relationship between financial confidence, work, and education can have a detrimental impact on young people’s well-being and aspirations for the future. 

Key Findings 

• The index shows that the happiness and confidence young people feel in their mental health has seen the biggest decline over the 15 years compared to other factors, while happiness with their work, education, qualifications, and money are at an all-time low. 
• Unemployed young people reported the lowest overall well-being this year. 1 in 4 young people would like to work but are unable to due to mental health.
• 40% of young people have experienced a mental health problem, and 1 in 5 say their mental health got worse in the past year. 
• 1 in 5 young people have missed school or work in the past year because of a mental health issue. 
• 1 in 10 young people from poorer backgrounds say they left work in the past 12 months due to mental health issues, compared to just 4% of their more affluent peers. 
• 62% of young people think that having a job is good for their mental health. 
• 53% of young people worry that the cost of living means they’ll never be financially secure. 
• 21% of young people have skipped meals to save money in the past year. 
• 36% of young people always or often feel lonely. 31% feel isolated. 
• 45% of young people feel their generation is more divided than this time last year. 
• 32% of young people say they have received negative or hurtful comments on social media, which made them feel lonely (18%).
• 60% of young women fear the cost of living means they will never be financially secure, compared to 45% of young men.
• 70% of young women always or often feel stressed, compared to 54% of young men. 

Supporting Young People

What support would help with achieving your career ambitions? 

• 32% help with securing work experience or training. 
• 28% help with building confidence. 
• 28% building skills for work. 
• 28% help with CV and interview skills. 
• 27% improving their qualifications. 
• 23% having a mentor. 
• 23% help with applying for jobs. 

You can read the full report here.