This autumn ONS has released a series of articles exploring young people’s earnings, education and employment, culminating in a well-attended policy forum in London .
As young people under the uncertain political climate of today, it is easy to believe that our voices aren’t being heard or we aren’t being considered as a demographic. We see the policies that are being introduced, some of which we can appreciate the immediate effects and benefits and others we can’t even begin to comprehend the impact it will have on our futures. For example, the new changes to the education system with the introduction of the 9-1 system as well as the linear more vigorous A-levels. With these changes one can’t help but ask who benefits from these changes? Is it really the young people it affects? There seems to be no explanation of why these policies are being implemented, rather we are forced to believe that it is for our benefits, how honest is this?
However, ‘The Office of National Statistics’ (ONS), are attempting to answer these questions and it starts with events like the one held on the 30th of October on ‘Young people and Intergenerational fairness’. This event brought together analysts, academics, researchers, government, young people and charities to share their research and opinions on issues that affected young people. The event was to find answers to what young people actually cared about. These included: education, employment, social mobility, housing and mental health. During the event, the ONS shared some statistics on the state of employment rate for people aged 16 to 25. The statistics showed a considerable increase of 5.5% value for the months June-August 2018 at 75.5% compared to the 70% of 2010 a decade ago during the same months. The significance of these statistics came not just from the fact that there is an improvement in employment but from the other information that could be gained from them. The increase in employment indicated the significance of the types of jobs young people are doing, the changing attitudes of employers to the needs of their employees needs such as job security that is important to young people. The increase was also linked to the fact that 66.9% of young workers could link their jobs to their education. There was a strong emphasis on the value career guidance in achieving this increase, guidance provided by the school, local authority or their guardians. But further statistics showed that 34% of young people have no one to talk to about their career prospects.
What these statistics showed was that there are some positives happening as a result of some policies but it also highlighted the negatives that still need to be improved upon. In terms of the kind of jobs available, there is a worry that with the lack of guidance there is a lack of information for many young people in the UK about how to get into higher jobs like science and research or corporate managers. Are we as ‘young people being told the truth’ about anything is a question proposed by Tom Richmond a senior research fellow at Policy Exchange as he reveals that 38% have degrees and with this there was a 90% employment rate for those with degrees and a TV for those without. Young people are confident and motivated but when important statistics and information like these are not shared better with young people how can one possibly be confident and motivated into making good sensible decisions? Other speakers included Richard Rigby from the Prince’s trust who spoke about the experience of young people before the day ended with the youth voice, the youth panel. The panel compiled of young people from across London including Sephora Ochou, Elisha Shivani, Florence Homes and sam Howlett and what this panel revealed is that it is time that the government and employers stop assuming what young people want and instead invite them into the conversation.
Andy Stanley says:
‘Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say’.
We are the futures of tomorrow and we have something to say.
By Yinka Aresa.
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