Half of students are worried about finding a job & lack confidence in careers advice

Emma Finamore
Last updated 24 Sep 2018

And careers advisers are even more concerned.

Half of full-time students aged 18-24 are concerned about finding a job after education, new research shows.

They also have little confidence in the careers advice they receive: according to the same research, 38% of 18-24 year olds rate the quality of advice received while in education as poor or very poor.

The figures come from a report from Mobile Mini via YouGov. The portable storage solutions and construction industry supplier polled over 650 18-24 year olds from across the UK on their career expectations and industries they’re looking to work in. This included full-time school, college and university students.

Some 26% of young people polled (currently employed) said they had found it difficult to get a job after leaving education, and 50% of full-time students said they are concerned about finding a job when they leave education.

Respondents also criticised the careers advice given to them by educational institutions. More than a third rated their experience as very or fairly poor (38%) with just 5% rating the careers advice as very good. Some 8% said they had not received any careers advice from an educational institution.

Continuing to learn while in work was a key priority for young jobseekers, with 39% of 18-24 year olds polled saying they would expect to be offered formal training as part of a job. However, just 17% said they would consider applying for an apprenticeship role.

Louise Arnold, Director of Human Resources at Mobile Mini, said: “It’s clear from the results that many young people are unimpressed by the quality of careers advice on offer but businesses must also take responsibility for highlighting the great opportunities in their sector and the varied roles on offer.”

The report builds on findings earlier this year by AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk which found not only do young people trust their parents more than their careers advisers and teachers, but that careers advisers and teachers feel ill-informed to provide the best advice: a huge 81.7% wish they knew more about non-university options.

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