Employment, skills and economic security
Youth Voice Census Report 2025
Youth Employment UK · 2025
About this report
The 2025 Youth Voice Census gathered responses from over 8,200 young people aged 11–30 across the UK, exploring their experiences of wellbeing, education, employment, and life in their local communities. The report finds that young people are increasingly "stuck in the middle" — neither thriving nor failing — with rising anxiety, stagnating life satisfaction, and a growing sense of disengagement. Key concerns include declining access to careers education, work experience, and extracurricular opportunities, alongside persistent inequalities affecting NEET young people, those eligible for free school meals, and those with additional needs. The report calls for five urgent actions from government and employers, including a Young Person's Entitlement, improved employer engagement, and a national digital support hub.
Research details
- Methodology
- SurveyFocus groupMixed methods
- Sample size
- 8,278
- Sample
- Young people aged 11–30 across the UK; 53% female, 42% male; 17% with additional needs; 33% eligible for free school meals; 5% care-experienced; 8% young carers. Recruited via social media, email networks, schools, colleges, universities, employers, and youth organisations.
- Who it's about
- NEET (not in education, employment or training)Care-experienced / care leaversYoung carers
- Place
- UK-wide
- Youth involvement
- No youth involvement
- Funders
- BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), Edge Foundation, Haven