Nearly half of young people don’t believe they are being taught the skills employers will value in entry level employers a decade from now, a survey by Barclays LifeSkills has found.
According to the survey young people between the ages of 14 and 25 believed that the top three skills required by employers in the next decade will be IT skills, problem solving and working with people from different generations and backgrounds.
Some 48% of young people said that they are not being taught these skills.
Business leaders had a different idea of what they would be looking for in a decade’s time. They identified the ability to prioritise and work effectively in large teams as the most desirable skills.
The majority of young people did not recognise how important these skills would be. Just a third correctly identified these as high priorities.
Kirstie Mackey, Head of LifeSkills created with Barclays, said: “Almost fifty percent of young people tell us they don’t believe they are being taught the skills needed to be employable in ten-years time. This is unacceptable. As the experts in the area, and those likely to be most affected by a skill shortage, businesses must work with education providers and the Government to ensure young people have the skills needed to succeed when they leave education.”
Nick Newman, Founder of National Careers Week, added: “It’s essential that young people not only understand the skills employers will be looking for in the future but are also given the appropriate guidance and support to develop them.”
