As the UK faces the challenges of significant skills shortages across industries, there are growing concerns that a generation of young, talented people are at risk of missing out on opportunities for employment, development and growth. This, alarmingly, appears to be driven not by a lack of potential, but rather a reluctance or inability to follow conventional career paths.

Research has found that nearly a million young individuals in the UK are currently detached from both employment and education. Many are instead drawn to the allure of careers being presented to them through social media by influencers and celebrities, which for most, are statistically out of reach. This suggests there is an urgent requirement for effective guidance and real-world opportunities for Generation Z.

Youth Employment: A challenge in numbers

Recent findings from the House of Commons Library are alarming, highlighting the urgent need to take action to avoid Generation Z being a lost generation of UK talent.

The government report shows that, between February and April 2025, 625,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 were unemployed, raising the youth unemployment rate to 14.3% – an increase from 13.6% during the same period in 2024. On top of that, 923,000 young people were classed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), representing 12.5% of the UK’s 16-24-year-old population.

What’s more, these challenges are not recent anomalies. Prolonged youth unemployment has lasting repercussions, lowering earning potential, impacting well-being, and increasing dependence on public resources.

Having conducted their own recent research into the State of Global Teenage Career Preparation, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development cautions that such periods of joblessness can leave young people “permanently scarred”, ultimately hindering both individuals and overall economic progress.

The aspiration v reality gap

At the heart of this potential talent crisis is an every-growing disconnect between what young people’s career hopes are and the realities of the actual job market. Social media and celebrity success stories have fuelled unrealistic expectations, fostering the belief that such lifestyles are easily attainable. The OECD reports that almost 46.4% of UK teenagers are now uncertain about their future jobs – a dramatic rise compared to 24.6% in 2018. Many of them still focus on sectors like entertainment and sports, where opportunities are limited.

News outlets have recently reported that while 35% of children express ambitions in media and culture, these industries comprise just 1% of forecasted job openings. This disconnect not only leaves many young people unable to fulfil their goals but also exacerbates talent shortages in vital fields such as STEM and engineering.

Career guidance and the importance of unlocking potential

The OECD emphasises that early and sustained career guidance can be transformative. Young people who engage in career-focused experiences, be it mentorship, workplace visits, or job shadowing, are more likely to secure employment and achieve higher wages. Yet, access to these valuable experiences is not distributed equally, leaving those from disadvantaged backgrounds at a disadvantage.

For such guidance and learning opportunities to be truly effective, it must be integrated throughout a student’s entire educational journey. But schools can’t bear the responsibility alone; employers must also take a proactive role, connecting with students early to provide insights and tangible career pathways.

The impact of employer involvement is significant, with research suggesting that even four career-related talks during schooling can reduce the likelihood of a young person becoming NEET by 86%. This is not only beneficial for individuals but also ensures a steady pipeline of prepared talent for organisations.

Apprenticeships are a proven, practical solution

Offering direct, hands-on opportunities such as apprenticeships is one of the most effective ways to support early career development. Apprenticeships combine practical work experience with ongoing skills development, benefiting both individuals and employers by building a workforce tailored to industry needs.

But, despite their multitude of advantages, participation in apprenticeships shows room for growth. Data from the Department for Education indicates that there were 202,520 apprenticeship starts in the first half of the 2024/25 academic year, representing a modest 1% increase from the year before. Of these, 27.9% involved those under 19, and higher apprenticeships (Levels 6 and 7) saw a 12.5% rise, reflecting growing interest in advanced vocational routes.

Impellam’s commitment to inspiring the future

At Impellam Group, across our specialist recruitment and workforce solutions organisations, we have been committed to driving change, creating bright futures, and helping to bridge skill gaps by supporting and driving the learning, development, and growth of the next generation of talent.

For decades we have built partnerships with schools, universities and other educational institutions, which we continue to grow and utilise to reach out and connect directly with young people, to open-up avenues of potential employment and guide them into fulfilling careers.

Working with our clients and customers, we offer incredible graduate opportunities, work placements and apprenticeships too, to ensure that the industries and specialisms we support have access to ready to work, ready to learn talent who are passionate about making an impact immediately.

And we are proud to be at the forefront of creating new, impactful initiatives, devised and delivered by our Early Careers experts, that offer new, innovative routes to connecting talent with opportunities at industry-leading organisations.

This includes our Recruit, Train, Deploy model, through which we find, attract and recruit top-tier talent – including school and university leavers – who we train to provide everything they need to succeed, and then place directly into our customers’ workforces.

A National Call to Action

Generation Z is brimming with potential, but without the right guidance, many risk drifting into unemployment or disillusionment. By investing in career education, expanding apprenticeships, and connecting young people with real-world situations and roles, we can bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity.

Work is being done. And at Carbon60, and across Impellam, we are ready to continue shaping opportunities for Early Careers candidates and organisations looking for their next generation alike. But there is plenty of work left to do. Across the UK and beyond, we must continue to:

  • Embed career education into the national curriculum from primary school onward.
  • Expand apprenticeship access, especially for underrepresented groups.
  • Foster partnerships between schools, universities, and employers to provide real-world exposure.
  • Challenge stereotypes about vocational careers and promote the value of skilled trades.

The time to act is now. Not just to fill jobs, but to build futures.