Published by the Prince's Trust today, The Prospects of This Year's School Leavers, also warns that one in five of this year's GSCE takers could be on the dole by the age of 21 if trends follow those of the 1980s recession.
But report author, University of Sheffield professor Danny Dorling, said: "The rate of youth unemployment in the recession to come will depend almost entirely on what options they are offered.
"With the right opportunities and support, there are more positive prospects for even the most disadvantaged or under-qualified young people."
Dorling identified sectors in the job market such as health, social care and some aspects of hospitality as areas that could potentially experience growth in the current economic climate.
As a result of its research, the Prince's Trust is launching a new skills development programme for young people called Get into Hospital Services. It will also be extending its Get into Social Care, Get into Youth Work and Get into Hospitality schemes.
