The Future of Work Experience For Young People

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest threat the UK has faced in decades. The virus has caused tens of thousands of deaths, has affected the lives of everyone in the country and has had a devastating effect on businesses.

Unemployment can have long-term impacts on individuals and families, with young people particularly vulnerable due to their lack of experience in work. 

Research has found that more than three in five employers that offer work experience and internships have cancelled placements because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This means that our talent pipeline could start to stall as companies anticipate offering fewer opportunities in the coming year.

In situations like this the first thing companies do is stop recruiting, before making redundancies, this causes downward pressure on young people because the entry level jobs are hit. Adult employment tends to bounce back quicker in an economic downturn, as adults trade down into jobs they would not normally take.

The difficulties facing companies is considerable. The Government announced a number of measures within the ‘kickstart’ scheme worth £8bn  to subsidise young employment to try to kickstart job creation for young people, but a lot of that depends on the future shape of the pandemic and the economic impact of it.

A lack of work experience opportunities means that, in addition to university graduates struggling to get their foot in the door, many others will be unable to complete workplace-based qualifications or gain the workplace skills that employers need

What can be done?

Over recent months companies have used technology to continue running their business. There is nothing stopping them from moving their work experience, internships, work experience, placements, apprenticeships as well as their outreach and recruitment programmes online to virtual workplace activities. This can ensure that they are all accessible and all young people have an opportunity to enter the labour market from a range of geographical backgrounds.

They can offer to work with youth organisations or mentoring. 

Employers need to take a flexible approach to when people work to enable young people to juggle and balance responsibilities

It is also important to note that perhaps in the long term, missed education from school closures and the cancellation of exams could disproportionately affect disadvantaged students: something companies must take into account when recruiting.