More than four in ten employers say a perceived lack of soft skills or work readiness is making it harder to recruit young people, according to new research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The survey of 500 employers found that 41% identified soft skills and work readiness as a challenge when employing people aged 16 to 24, while 40% highlighted lack of work experience. Almost a third, 32%, cited resilience and 31% pointed to technical skills.
The research was carried out by IFF Research as part of the independent Milburn Review into rising levels of unemployment and economic inactivity among young people.
Employers want more preparation for work
The findings suggest widespread concern among employers about the transition between education and employment.
Some 85% of employers said there should be more emphasis on teaching the soft skills needed for work, while 76% felt the current curriculum does not adequately prepare young people for employment.
A further 91% backed more vocational pathways and 89% said schools, colleges and sixth forms should provide careers guidance.
Soft skills can include communication, organisation, teamwork, time management, decision-making and adaptability — abilities that are increasingly requested alongside formal qualifications.
However, the findings also highlight a longstanding problem facing young jobseekers: employers want experience, but young people need employers to give them opportunities in order to gain it.
Previous work experience and low motivation were both identified by 27% of employers as perceived barriers to employment opportunities for young people. Another 12% pointed to the availability of youth-friendly employers and recruitment processes.
Work experience could be part of the answer
The report found a clear connection between employers engaging with education providers and recruiting younger workers.
Some 55% of employers had engaged with an education or employment support organisation. Among those employers, unpaid work experience was the most common form of involvement at 49%, followed by apprenticeships at 44% and paid work experience at 36%.
Employers already recruiting 16 to 24-year-olds were considerably more likely to engage with colleges and other providers.
But employers also reported practical obstacles. Finding staff time to manage engagement was the most commonly reported challenge, cited by 41%, while 34% said they lacked the necessary resources.
Recruitment must work both ways
The figures arrive at a time of growing concern over youth unemployment and the shrinking availability of some entry-level opportunities.
For employers, the findings raise questions about whether recruitment practices themselves could do more to recognise potential rather than requiring young applicants to arrive with extensive previous experience.
Training, structured onboarding, apprenticeships and high-quality work placements can all help young employees develop skills once they enter an organisation.
Among employers that had encountered difficulties recruiting young people, improving progression opportunities and strengthening training and onboarding were among the responses being adopted.
The findings suggest that closing the gap between education and employment will require action from schools, government and employers alike.
If businesses need a new generation of work-ready employees, creating accessible routes through which young people can gain those skills and experience is likely to be an equally important part of the solution.
Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Employer Views on Hiring Young People Survey Report, published 27th August 2026.