Fewer students in the UK work in the summer and during their studies

The number of schoolchildren and students working in the summer in Great Britain has almost halved compared to twenty years ago. Their number fell from 43% in 1997 to 22% in 2015 for 16-17 year olds, while the same figure for 18-24 year olds fell by one-fifth, according to a new study published by the Institute for Public Research.policy (Institute for Public Policy Research - IPPR).

Meanwhile, the experience of such work, as evidenced by the research data, is an important tool for acquiring those skills that may further interest recruiters. “Without work experience, it is difficult to demonstrate those soft skills that employers need so much/ In the immediate aftermath of the 2009 recession, 23% of youth with no work experience were unemployed, while only 14% of those with work experience were in a similar position. A combination of earnings and training can be a convenient way to acquire the skills required for the job. It helps make the transition from learning to work - but there are currently too few opportunities of this kind available, ”the study says.

For some employers, such work experience may be even more important than participating in volunteer programs or extracurricular activities at the university. Sandy Okorogo, Senior Associate at HSBC Global Asset Management, argues that part-time employment is the most important way to develop the skills you need to work. “Forget about going to China to change the world.I need people who come to me with real work experience, ”she says.

An IPPR spokesman told The Telegraph that many of those who do not work during their studies would like to try if given the opportunity: “Of course, not all students whodo not work, we would like to do it - some put other activities first. Given the increasing role of exams and tuition fees, it is possible that they are trying to get the most out of their studies. But our analysis shows that many young people are unemployed - during the school year and during the summer - which means that they do not work, although they would like to.

Last summer, more than 250,000 Britons aged 16 to 24 were unemployed: they tried to find a job but could not. One of the reasons is the fact that the areas in which students were usually employed - retail or sales - are going through hard times today.

“Even if there are enough full-time job offers, it is difficult for students to combine it with a full-time education,” explains a spokesman for IPPR. Unsurprisingly, employers are reluctant to hire people with no work experience, and finding jobs is becoming more and more difficult for university graduates. "Employers prefer to hire those who already have work experience - a survey of employers shows that only 27% of them are hiring those who have just graduated."

In addition, most employers prefer those who stay for a longer period than one summer. Danny Gill, who run a cafe in Leicestershire, explained to the BBC that he invests a lot of time in his employees to provide the level of service his customers expect.“If I only have 2 or 3 months, it becomes too difficult to include a person in a full-fledged job,” he says.

This problem does not only exist in the United Kingdom. Hang Ho, head of philanthropy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at JP Morgan, told onrec.com that a similar situation is observed in the US: “A recent report from JPMorgan analyzing summer employment opportunities for youth in the US showsthat the percentage of teenagers working in the summer has fallen by 37% over the past 20 years, reaching 34%, close to a record. Low-income families and communities are most affected. Helping young people find and keep jobs is a global problem. "

Alexander Zhuravlev