Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Only 6% of managers think young recruits are ready for work, CMI finds

While 45% of 18 to 24-year-olds believed they had the skills needed to succeed at work, only 6% of managers agreed.

3 min read
Share
Only 6% of managers think young recruits are ready for work, CMI finds
ADVERTISEMENT

Just 6% of managers said young recruits are ready for work, according to research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). 

While 45% of 18 to 24-year-olds believed they had the skills needed to succeed at work, only 6% of managers agreed.

61% of managers said younger workers were more likely to lack resilience, professionalism, communication and feedback skills, and 91% said this affected workforce performance. 

Only 12% of managers said young employees were progressing as expected. 

Where young recruits did not pass probation or failed to progress, managers most often cited lack of motivation, resilience, workplace behaviour and timekeeping.

ADVERTISEMENT

Additionally, the research found that young people were still ambitious, with 64% wanting to move into management or leadership and 83% saying mentoring or professional support would boost their confidence. 

Most young people also felt education focused too much on academic theory and not enough on practical workplace skills.

Petra Wilton, director of policy and external affairs at the CMI, said: “GCSE results day marks an exciting milestone, but exam performance is only part of the equation. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“Whether students move on to sixth form, further education or an apprenticeship pathway, qualifications alone cannot prepare them for workplace realities.

“To thrive as they prepare for the labour market, young people need foundational professional core leadership skills – including adaptability, communication and handling feedback.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Wilton added: “With nearly two-thirds of young workers aspiring for management and leadership roles, developing core leadership capabilities must begin early. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“If we want to raise productivity and tackle youth unemployment, employers, educators, and the government must collaborate to embed leadership readiness directly into post-16 education and training.”

Lisa Pinfield, group talent director at Capita, said: “We can’t expect young people to thrive in the workplace if the managers welcoming them in don’t yet have the skills to coach, give meaningful feedback, or handle difficult conversations well. 

“If we’re serious about early careers retention, we need to invest in structured management development much earlier, helping ‘accidental managers’ become confident, thoughtful leaders who create the kind of environment people want to stay and grow in.”

Jon Hornagold, apprenticeship manager at Amey, said: “Young people thrive when they have a structured pathway and a clear line of sight to professional recognition. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“Providing early-career talent with an employer-recognised stamp of capability, like CMI’s new routes to Chartered status, gives them immediate authenticity and a sense of belonging. 

“When we pair formal development with a clear professional body pathway, we see immediate dividends in their confidence, retention and desire to step up as future leaders.”

Related