YOUNG PEOPLE WELL PREPARED FOR WORK, SURVEY FINDS

Most young people leave education well prepared for their first job, according to a survey of nearly 80,000 employers published today by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

The National Employer Skills Survey for England (NESS) 2009 report questioned 79,152 employers about their skills needs and recruitment practices during the height of last year’s recession.

In the 12 months prior to the fieldwork, just under a quarter of employers (23 per cent) had recruited a young person to their first job – significantly fewer than in 2007 (26 per cent).

Employers were more likely to have taken on 17- or 18-year olds straight from school or college (11 per cent) and under 24s from Higher Education (10 per cent) than 16 year olds straight from school (six per cent).

Yet of those employers who did recruit 16 year olds, two-thirds (66 per cent) found them to be well or very well prepared for work.  Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) thought that 17- or 18-year old college or school leavers were well prepared for work, and 84 per cent of employers recruiting new graduates found them to be well prepared.

The minority of employers who found their young recruits were poorly prepared for work more often attributed this to a lack of life experience and maturity, or to a poor attitude or personality than a lack of specific skills.  However, amongst graduates, as many as 44 per cent of the small number of employers who found their recruits poorly prepared put this down to a lack of required skills and competencies.

The survey also found that the number of employers reporting recruitment difficulties halved during the recession.  However, the proportion of establishments with at least one staff member who is not fully proficient at their job increased from 15% in 2007 to 19% in 2009 - possibly as a result of employers asking more of their employees during the recession.  And although the percentage of employers providing training for their staff remained stable at roughly two-thirds, the proportion of the workforce receiving training fell from 63% in 2007 to 56% in 2009.

Chris Humphries, Chief Executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, said:
“This is a major, wide ranging survey and one of the most robust of its type.  It provides a valuable insight into the multitude of effects that a downturn has on the labour market and the unique challenges faced by employers during the height of the recession.  Interestingly, the messages are not all bad, particularly when it comes to employers who recruit staff straight from full-time education.

“Employers who actually have experience of working with young people seem to be much more positive about them than employers more generally. So whilst it is important to continue efforts to make school, college and university leavers as work-ready as possible, it is up to employers to leave their prejudices behind and ensure they make the most of this pool of talent.  Work experience, apprenticeships and internships are an easy and relatively risk-free way of sampling the calibre of young people, and I would encourage all employers to provide these, as well as being open-minded enough to make suitable permanent positions available for young people looking for their first job.”

The research was conducted by IFF research on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, with fieldwork being undertaken between March and July 2009. 

The National Employer Skills Survey for England 2009: Main Report is available to download from www.ukces.org.uk

Further information from Alex Curling, Head of Press, 01709 774890/07748 090500