Youth Employment UK · 2023
The 2023 Youth Voice Census gathered responses from 4,276 young people aged 11–30 across England, supplemented by in-person qualitative interviews, to capture their experiences of education, employment, and community life. The report finds that young people feel increasingly disconnected, disenfranchised, and unprepared for the future, with worsening wellbeing, reduced access to work experience, and widening inequalities—particularly for those with protected characteristics such as care leavers, Black and mixed-heritage young people, and LGBTQ+ young people. Careers education in secondary schools showed improvement, and apprentices reported relatively positive experiences, but college, university, and NEET young people received less support. Young people are calling for investment in local opportunities, better transition support, and employers who meet their individual needs.