UK fares relatively well for youth skills
13 January 2014
The UK comes out relatively well in a survey of skills shortages among under 25-year-olds across the EU.
Mon, 13 Jan 2014The UK comes out relatively well in a survey of skills shortages among under 25-year-olds across the EU.
In the report ‘Education to employment: Getting Europe’s youth into work’, global management consulting firm McKinsey examines the apparent paradox between high youth unemployment across Europe, and the problems faced by employers in finding people with the right skills.
Mona Mourshed, director at McKinsey, who lead the survey, says: “The debate in Europe has so far focused on there not being enough jobs. What our research shows is that jobs are a challenge, but there is equally a skills issue.”
The survey found that employers in countries such as Greece and Italy, which in October had rates of youth unemployment of 57.9% and 41.4% respectively, were concerned about the skills of young people looking for their first job (47% and 45% of employers respectively).
In comparison, in the UK where youth unemployment is lower, only 18% of employers say that lack of skills among first jobbers is harming their business.
The report says that the process through which young people make the journey from education to employment across the eight counties is letting European youth down. It also suggests that young people themselves need to change their approach. “To make rational decisions, young people need to think more strategically about their futures,” it advises.
In the report ‘Education to employment: Getting Europe’s youth into work’, global management consulting firm McKinsey examines the apparent paradox between high youth unemployment across Europe, and the problems faced by employers in finding people with the right skills.
Mona Mourshed, director at McKinsey, who lead the survey, says: “The debate in Europe has so far focused on there not being enough jobs. What our research shows is that jobs are a challenge, but there is equally a skills issue.”
The survey found that employers in countries such as Greece and Italy, which in October had rates of youth unemployment of 57.9% and 41.4% respectively, were concerned about the skills of young people looking for their first job (47% and 45% of employers respectively).
In comparison, in the UK where youth unemployment is lower, only 18% of employers say that lack of skills among first jobbers is harming their business.
The report says that the process through which young people make the journey from education to employment across the eight counties is letting European youth down. It also suggests that young people themselves need to change their approach. “To make rational decisions, young people need to think more strategically about their futures,” it advises.
