A recent survey highlights significant shifts in workplace priorities and skills among young people aged 16-24 over the last three years.
- Employers report a mismatch between the skills of young workers and what is expected in the workplace, attributing this largely to pandemic-related disruptions.
- Many organisations lack targeted initiatives to address the skills gap in young talent, leading to challenges in recruitment and retention.
- The demand for flexible working, increased salaries, and hybrid opportunities reflect changing values among younger employees.
- Emphasis on mental wellbeing and learning opportunities is increasingly important to attract and maintain young talent.
In an insightful survey conducted by The Open University, 72% of employers observed changes in the values and priorities of younger employees in recent years. This trend is primarily linked to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have impacted work experience and social interactions among the 16-24 age group. As a result, the recruitment and retention of young workers have become increasingly challenging for nearly half of the employers surveyed.
The survey’s findings revealed that over 50% of organisations do not have specialised programmes to address the skills gap among employees under 25. This inadequacy has contributed to a widening gap between the skills young workers possess and what employers expect. The decline in essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management, alongside technical skills, underscores the urgent need for investment in preparing this generation for the workforce.
Employers identified major contributing factors to the skills mismatch, including a lack of work experience and diminished opportunities for young people to collaborate and learn from peers, compounded by remote and hybrid working arrangements. These factors have exacerbated the disconnection between young employees’ skill sets and the expectations in the modern workplace.
The research also highlights a shift in workplace benefits preferred by young people over the past three years. Flexible working arrangements, higher salary demands, and hybrid working opportunities have become increasingly important to this demographic. Additionally, there is a clear preference for wellbeing support and opportunities for mentorship or shadowing to enhance workplace experiences.
The value placed on mental wellbeing by young workers necessitates adjustments from employers to boost morale and satisfaction. The correlation between wellbeing and flexible learning and development programmes is evident, highlighting the importance of providing such opportunities. Short courses with certification, mentoring, coaching, informal online courses, vocational qualifications, and apprenticeships are among the top learning preferences expressed by young employees.
The evolving values and skills of young workers necessitate proactive strategies from employers to bridge the gap and foster a supportive work environment.
