Recent research from CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) explores the context of the youth labour market, using results from a YouGov (Sept 2020) survey of 1006 senior HR professionals in the UK. The study shows that fewer than half the companies (48%) surveyed planned on hiring a young person in the next 12 months (down from 62% the previous year), and that employers reported a decrease in the provision of all types of work experience placements in the same period. CIPD predicts that this fall in work experience placements will impact internships and placements for school students most significantly.

In addition, the CIPD’s report reveals worrying data for work experience opportunities. Only 43% of medium-sized and 20% of small employers have provided an apprenticeship in the last 12 months, with traineeships seeing an even lower take-up, of just 9% of all employers. The CIPD warns that the incentives to provide apprenticeships and traineeships are not providing enough motivation to shift employer behaviour.

To read the CIPD report (December 2020)  in full, click here.