Bryan HayA recent study by The Open University has found that 72% of employers recognize a shift in the values and priorities of young workers aged 16 to 24 over the past three years. Over half attribute these changes to the pandemic’s impact on work experience. The survey highlights a pressing issue: 46% of employers find it challenging to recruit young employees, and 53% struggle to retain them.
Organisations lack targeted initiatives for under-25 employees, contributing to a significant skills gap. About 58% of employers noted a mismatch between the skills young people possess and what is expected by employers, intensified by declines in soft and technical skills among 54% and 55% of young workers, respectively.
The pandemic’s role in reducing work experience, along with limited social interaction and remote working opportunities, are seen as key factors behind these trends. Young employees now prioritize flexible and hybrid working, higher salaries, and support for wellbeing and mentoring, indicating a shift towards a more balanced work-life focus.
In response, The Open University will host a full-day event on 22 May titled ‘Elevate Equity: Harnessing Young Talent,’ aimed at helping employers better attract and develop young professionals. The event promises insights into Gen-Z’s career expectations and will provide strategies to tackle hybrid working challenges and foster young talent effectively.
