A new survey has found that 43% of the young people surveyed said they felt they faced barriers to entering the world of work, with only one in five saying they didn’t face any.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of the young people said that confidence and anxiety-related concerns held them back, while more than a 11% cited discrimination as a factor.
However more than four-fifths of employers (82%) in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City believe they help young people achieve their potential.
Nearly two-thirds of employers are satisfied with how they connect with young people and three-quarters believe they are inspiring young people to gain skills for the world of work.
Background
The findings were revealed in two surveys conducted by DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) which set out to examine young people and employers’ opinions on the employment landscape in the region.
The unique collaboration between DYW Moray and DYW North East quizzed young people about how they perceived the opportunities available to them, while asking employers how they find their future talent.
DYW North East chairperson James Bream said: “The results show a disparity between how young people view entering the world of work and how businesses view the situation.
“The good news is that businesses are committed and are making efforts to support our young people, but we can do more.
“Perception is everything and employers will need support in understanding these perceived barriers and with that we can help to address this situation.”
Playing a part
Other findings showed an optimism about the area from both employers and young people.
Nearly half of young people (49%) see the North-east and Moray as an extremely or very suitable place to work, study or train, and more than half of employers (55%) see it as very suitable. And only six percent of young people say they don’t feel hopeful about their future work prospects
Brian MacAulay, chairperson at DYW Moray, highlighted the important link the organisations play in acting as the bridge between young people and the workplace.
“Developing the Young Workforce works to connect employers with education,” he said.
“It is encouraging that the survey showed 58% of the businesses already engage with one of the regional DYW groups.
“What was even more heartening was that 92% of them are satisfied with that engagement and 86% would recommend us to other employers.
“It’s a collaborative approach that will help us address the barriers our young people feel they face in entering the world of work.”