Employers struggle to find young people with life skills to succeed

2023-05-22

Employers struggle to find young people with the life skills to succeed in a workplace shaped by the transition to net zero and AI, report finds

Two out of three employers surveyed reported a lack of transferable skills

There is ‘reckless disconnect’ between education policy and what employers want from new recruits, a new report has revealed.

Employers are struggling to find young people with the life skills to succeed in a workplace increasingly shaped by the transition to net zero and the growth of AI, it was suggested.

Two out of three employers surveyed by think tank Demos reported a lack of transferable skills that cannot be automated by new technologies.

Young people surveyed, including former Scouts, found that 61 per cent said a lack of work experience meant they did not feel prepared for starting work after school or university.

The report also identified a ‘double skills gap’ – a lack of technical and transferable skills that are crucial in the workplace.

(Stock Image) Employers are struggling to find young people with the life skills to succeed in a workplace increasingly shaped by the transition to net zero and the growth of AI, it was suggested

(Stock Image) Young people surveyed, including former Scouts, found that 61 per cent said a lack of work experience meant they did not feel prepared for starting work after school or university

Two in three employers said they struggle to hire young people with sufficient technical skills and half had problems recruiting young people with transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork and emotional resilience.

Transferable skills were said to be particularly valuable for young people’s employability, with more than half of employers saying they value them over technical skills, while just 10% value technical skills more.

Alice Dawson, researcher at Demos, said: ‘Our research shows a reckless disconnect between UK education policy and what the job market actually wants from new recruits.

‘Education reforms of recent years have cultivated a narrow focus on academic education, leaving far too many young people exposed to a workplace that is increasingly concerned with transferable skills. As a country this means we’re left with unfilled vacancies, and, most importantly, unfulfilled potential.

‘The mission for the next government must be to reverse this trend. Our report sets out clearly how this can be achieved and how we can ensure that the next generations of workers have the skillset to thrive in tomorrow’s workplace, where transferable life skills will have never been more important.’

Bear Grylls, chief scout and author of the report’s foreword, said: ‘Our young people are under more pressure than ever to have the right skills and experience to help them succeed – while protecting their mental health and wellbeing.

‘Employers say they struggle to recruit the resilience, teamwork and leadership skills they need. Gaining these skills depends on having the opportunity and the courage to reach out of your comfort zone to learn and grow.

‘Ensuring access to the power of skills learned beyond the classroom would create real change for individuals and a stronger society.’

The research was based on a poll of 3,000 people, including 1,000 Scouts alumni and 500 employers.

Source: Read Full Article