Employers and the recruitment of young people : an evidence review
This paper collates and assesses recent evidence on employers’ attitudes and recruitment practices in regard to young people. Specifically, the review examines evidence relating to the recruitment of young people (with a focus wherever possible on 16–18 year olds), what employers are looking for from young recruits and the extent to which young people meet those requirements.
Employers and the recruitment of young people (PDF, 756 Kb)
April 2012
This study seeks to understand from the employers perspective the issues and challenges faced by young people when seeking work. The study improves our understanding of the recruitment process and the attitudes and concerns of employers regarding the recruitment of young people age 16-18 years.
It highlights the small proportion of employers who recruit from that age group and the concerns many such employers have about the preparedness of school and college leavers for the world of work. The review considers the often negative perceptions of employers who regard the recruitment of a young person as a risk and a potential burden on their business and looks at the often unintended consequences of employers’ recruitment practices.
The review concludes by considering the extent to which employers could gain from a greater engagement with the education and training system as well as the constraints on such employer-education links. We believe that the study represents a valuable contribution to the policy debate around supporting the preparation for work for young people through aligning education and training to meet employment needs.
