Schoolchildren ‘should get careers advice from age of 12’

Its report says more needs to be done to make sure young people learn about a wide variety of jobs, and suggests that this is particularly important for the millions of disadvantaged youngsters who do not have access to the social and family networks that can lead to certain professions.

It also warns there is a “mismatch” between high youth unemployment and employers who are struggling to recruit talented workers.

It says that around 1.09 million youngsters are currently considered “Neet” – not in education, employment or training, but at the same time, CBI figures suggest that half of businesses are not confident that they will find enough staff.

There needs to be a “major culture change” in careers services to deal with this issue, the report argues.

It says careers are changing at a rapid pace, with more complex jobs opening up and providing new opportunities for many people. But it warns that this makes it harder for young people to make decisions about their future careers.

“In addition to people receiving high quality, independent impartial careers guidance which accurately gives people information about the labour market and the different routes into careers, all people, but especially young people need insights into different career options to broaden and raise their expectations,” the report says.

“We should ensure that more young people and adults get to meet a wider variety of people doing a wide variety of jobs.

“This is important to the two million young people who live in workless households to whom such experiences have especially high value and are often least likely to have the social networks and family networks required.”

The traditional “job for life” has largely disappeared, and it is essential that people are able to adapt and switch careers, the report says. It added: “Where it is clear that young people are unaware of opportunities in parts of the economies resulting in skills shortages, there is a need for national action.”