Speakers for Schools · 2022
This report by Speakers for Schools analyses the impact of work experience on employment outcomes for young British adults aged 18–30. Using a YouGov survey of 2,098 respondents, it finds that participation in work experience is associated with a 3.4% higher average wage per additional type of experience and reduces the probability of becoming NEET from 11% to 7%. The report also reveals significant inequalities in access: pupils from independent schools were twice as likely to have had multiple work placements compared to state-educated peers, and access varied by socio-economic background, region, and ethnicity. The findings are used to make the case for universal access to quality work experience as a tool for improving social mobility.