Employers are increasingly identifying a lack of soft skills and work readiness as a significant challenge when hiring young people, according to a recent independent review. The interim report found that 42% of employers cited these issues, with only 10% expressing concern about the resilience of young applicants.
Economist Jude Hillary, who led a project for NFER, emphasizes that these human skills are crucial for individuals to enter and advance in higher-skilled roles, even amidst increasing automation. "This is where the job growth is going to be in the labour market," Hillary stated. "It's really important young people come into the labour market being able to compete for these jobs."
Hillary believes that focusing on six essential employment skills will equip young people to navigate a rapidly changing professional landscape. "It's increasingly likely that during the course of your working life, you might have to make some fairly dramatic changes in what you're doing as your job gets replaced by technology," he explained.
The review, overseen by former health secretary Alan Milburn, is examining the extent to which young people are not engaged in work, education, or training. The final report is anticipated in September and is expected to propose strategies for increasing the number of young adults in secure employment.
In response to these trends, there is growing pressure on educational institutions to integrate work-readiness alongside academic learning. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated support for earlier technical education, starting at age 14, and has backed a work experience initiative for 10,000 young people recently announced by the retail chain Sainsbury's.