Job and education worries are biggest concerns for young people

A survey by the charity found that nearly two-thirds of issues (61 per cent) young people in Britain are concerned about relate to education and half (54 per cent) relate to employment.

YMCA’s What Matters Most report collates findings from a survey of 2,005 young people across England and Wales. More than a third (35 per cent) of the issues they identified related to their health and wellbeing and 26 per cent related to housing. ?

Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England, said the findings reinforce the need for the government to introduce new measures in the upcoming Budget to help young people access sustainable jobs and quality education.

“It is clear from this research that this generation has very real fears about being cut adrift from society as political and economic realities bite,” she said.
 
“Positive changes, such as a promised increase in apprenticeships, are welcome but the government must use its first full Budget [on March 16] to focus on young people and give them the start in life that they need to progress positively into work and society.”

The research, conducted by YouthSight in January and February this year, questioned the participants on the biggest issues across key policy areas.

The biggest single concern for young people overall was the availability of job opportunities, with four in 10 respondents raising it as an issue that should be addressed.

The cost of further education was also a major worry, while mental health topped young people’s health and wellbeing concerns. Meanwhile, the cost of housing and the risk of debt were the biggest personal finance issues highlighted. ??