Three-quarters of kids don’t feel prepared for the world of work, survey finds
THREE quarters of kids don’t feel prepared for the world of work – and a quarter have no idea what to do after leaving education.
A poll took the opinions of 1,000 mums and dads and their children aged 11-18, and found 53 per cent of young people surveyed are nervous about starting employment.
With 54 per cent worrying they’ll get things wrong, and the same amount are simply not sure what to expect in their early working life.
Their parents fear a lack of communication skills (22 per cent) and organisational ability (26 per cent) will hinder them when entering the world of work.
And four in 10 (41 per cent) are concerned their children will struggle with future careers because they’re not prepared for the workplace.
With inexperience (31 per cent), lack of maturity (27 per cent), and confidence (41 per cent) also concerns.
The research was commissioned by Talking Futures, which has marked the launch of their new ‘Technical Education Opens Doors’ campaign with a one-day pop-up at London’s Southbank and Manchester’s Media City.
A spokesperson said: “When it comes to shaping a child’s life and career choices, no one is more influential than their parents.
“That’s why so it’s important to understand all the options available to your child – it’s your best chance of giving them the support that’s right for them.
“This research shows just how many children, and their parents, are sharing feelings of anxiety about their future careers.
“With this new campaign, we want to highlight how technical education options like T-levels, apprenticeships and HTQs can open doors for young people – and help prepare them for employment.”
The research went on to find less than a tenth (eight per cent) of parents surveyed feel they have an ‘excellent’ understanding of qualifications available post-16.
And as many as 52 per cent confess to feeling ‘helpless’ when it comes to helping their kids with their education options.
Parents believe strong communication skills (76 per cent), confidence (73 per cent) and a good work ethic (71 per cent) are what kids need to succeed after joining the workforce, as well as having the necessary skills for the job (56 per cent).
More than half (56 per cent) of parents believe more opportunities for work experience would better prepare their child for work after school or college, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
The installation, officially opened by campaign ambassador Tim Campbell, highlights how technical education helps to equip young people with the skills, experience, and knowledge they need for the workplace.
Tim Campbell MBE added: “As a parent, I understand the worries we have about ensuring our children have the right experience to pursue a fulfilling career but, equally, as an employer, I am aware of the skills that businesses are looking for.
“We all want to do the best to support our children so my advice would be to find out more about the education options available to your child.
“There are numerous routes, and not all of them will be the right fit for every young person.
“Try to be as informed as you can about what is out there, so that you can have open and informative conversations with your child about their future career prospects.”