Employment, skills and economic security
Breaking Down Barriers Working Towards Birmingham’s Future Supporting Younger People Into Employment
Birmingham City Council / Birmingham Employment Taskforce · 2021
About this report
This report by Birmingham City Council investigates the barriers facing young people aged 16–24 in accessing employment and work experience in Birmingham, with a particular focus on the impact of Covid-19. Based on surveys and interviews with nearly 2,000 young people, 300 businesses, and education stakeholders, it finds that the pandemic did not create new barriers but exposed and worsened pre-existing inequalities linked to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, care experience, and mental health. Youth unemployment in Birmingham stood at approximately 20% at the time of publication, substantially above the national average. The report makes ten practical recommendations including improving public transport access, supporting mental health, developing a city-wide mentoring scheme, and creating a 'one stop shop' online hub for employment opportunities.
Research details
- Methodology
- SurveyInterviewFocus groupMixed methods
- Sample size
- 1,733
- Sample
- Young people aged 16–24 in Birmingham; also businesses (238 surveyed) and education stakeholders (18 surveyed), with roundtable participants from business and education sectors.
- Who it's about
- Care-experienced / care leaversNEET (not in education, employment or training)
- Locality
- Birmingham
- Place
- West Midlands
- Youth involvement
- No youth involvement