The British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee will explore the barriers preventing young people from accessing work experience in its next inquiry. The new committee of eleven young people, which is yet to be appointed, will embark on the inquiry later this year. Access to work experience was voted in the top three issues by young people in the Make Your Mark ballot, the largest annual consultation of young people in the UK.
The announcement comes as YouGov’s latest poll reveals over two-thirds of young people (71 per cent) are expecting it to be tougher to find a job in 2030 with 58 per cent of all 11-18 year olds citing a lack of work experience as a barrier.
Anna Rose Barker, Chair of the British Youth Council said “It comes as no surprise to us that young people have declared employment a top concern of theirs. With the uncertainty created by Brexit, a failure to install a real living wage for young people and ongoing concerns about work experience, it is clear that young people need meaningful commitments from decision makers to tackle all of these issues.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what this year’s Youth Select Committee finds during its inquiry, and how the government responds to the recommendations.”
The Committee will set out the key areas for exploration prior to seeking written and oral evidence from the public. Work experience gives young people the opportunity to develop themselves, hobbies and potential career paths. However, young people have said that knowing where to find work experience can be a challenge.
Last year the Youth Select Committee examined body image and the impact it has on the well-being of children and young people. The Committee concluded that body dissatisfaction was causing long-lasting consequences for young people. The Government is due to respond to the committee remark and recommendations soon.
