An alarming level of young people (83%) think they need to fit into the same ‘mould’ as an employer to be hired according to a new research from City Year UK a youth social action charity.
78% of young people believe that employers don’t have enough faith in their skills and abilities, further highlighting the widening gap between young people and employers.
Over a third (39%) of young people feel that ethnicity plays a factor in securing a job, and nearly one in ten believe they have been rejected for this reason. The survey also shows that factors such as a person’s accent, appearance, education or perceived social class could impact their chances of getting into a chosen career.
The poll showed that almost two thirds (65%) of young people believe businesses need to do more to ensure they are offered a level playing field when applying for jobs and nearly three quarters (72%) say government support is needed to help bridge the gap between young people and prospective employers.
Sophie Livingstone, Chief Executive of City Year UK, said: “It’s shocking to see the younger generation are writing themselves off before they’ve even started on the career ladder. There is an army of dedicated young people willing to succeed who have the right professional skills, they’re just not getting the chance.
“At a time when the talent pool is shrinking, we need to give amazing young people across the UK the right opportunities to showcase what they can do.
“We’re working harder than ever with businesses and corporate mentors to nurture home-grown talent in order to prove what the younger generation has to offer.”
Khadija Mannan, 22, volunteering full-time in Mossfield Primary School, Greater Manchester said about her time at City Year: “Volunteering with City Year UK is helping me to realise my full potential, but I still feel that young people are being shut out from certain jobs. We have so much amazing talent across the UK, and I’m volunteering alongside incredible young people from a variety of backgrounds who are passionate about eradicating social immobility.
“We’re being shut out and it isn’t fair that we’re judged on our ethnicity or social class before we can showcase our skills or potential. Things needs to change.” Source: voice-online.co.uk
