UKCES welcomes new London Councils careers report

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) today welcomed the publication of a new report on careers for young people in the capital by London Councils and the London Enterprise Panel.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) today welcomed the publication of a new report on careers for young people in the capital by London Councils and the London Enterprise Panel. The report is written by UKCES Commissioner Dr Deirdre Hughes and is supported by the Mayor of London, who will launch the report at City Hall today (25 June 2015).

Among other recommendations, the report proposes that every young Londoner should have completed 100 hours of experience of the world of work by age 16.

Experience of the world of work is seen as increasingly important as the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds combining full-time education with a part-time job has fallen from 42% in 1997 to 18% in 2014.

UKCES business surveys consistently show lack of experience as one of the top factors employers cite when rejecting young people for jobs.

Commenting, Alex Curling, Assistant Director at UKCES, said:

"UKCES research has highlighted the importance of work experience for employers, who often see a candidate’s experience as equally important as their qualifications. This report’s recommendation for broadening the contact young people have with the world of work is welcome.

"Crucially, the report makes clear that ‘experience’ goes far beyond a formal work placement. Employers can and should provide experiences for school-age students that include talks and presentations, mentoring, careers advice, role model visits, mock interviews, or visits to workplaces."

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