Discover the gaps in work experience access for young people and how these challenges affect skills development, career confidence and future opportunities.

Within the last week we have seen the launch of two new reports exploring work experience with The Key Group finding that 147,000 Year 10 pupils, fewer than half, actually do work experience. In addition, the Speakers for Schools ‘Assumed Knowledge’ report lays clear the disadvantage that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds face.

Both reports build on the research gathered by Youth Employment UK over the last 12 years, but in particular the Youth Voice Census. Our annual report has asked young people about their opportunities for work experience for the last 7 years.

In 2024 more than 5,000 young people aged 11-30 took part in the Census and some of the key findings relating to work experience are:

  • 36% of young people in secondary school had access to work experience
  • Of that 36% only 38% of young people had work experience in a job that they were interested in
  • 51% of young people had help to find work experience
  • 67% of young people stated their work experience was good/excellent
  • Those young people who are Black African, Black British or Caribbean, care experienced or those with additional needs and eligibility for free school meals are often the groups receiving less opportunity
  • Cost, access and safety of travel plays a big part in what young people can access, and where you live really matters

We understand the importance of work experience, it is often the only time young people get to really experience what it is like to be at work before making their Post-16 education choices, and that can feel like a lot to choose your study/apprenticeship options without having experienced any form of work to know if those choices are right for you.

It is also a key time to build some of those critical work skills (employability, essential, soft, so many names!) before you begin to apply for your first paid roles. Often employers are looking for examples of when you have used or shown your work-skills as a selection criteria at interviews. So without any work experience this can be a real barrier for that all important first job.

Youth Employment UK

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