Having a successful career, going to university and owning a house are seen as ‘fantasies’ for millions of young people, according to new research.
Three quarters of Brits aged 16-25 are also unconvinced they’ll ever be able to land a job they love – something which was far more achievable for the previous generation.
Eight in 10 young people said they fear other people going for the same positions as them are stronger candidates with better CVs and better experience.One in 10 don’t think they’ll be able to go to university, while owning a house is considered to be completely unobtainable by 40 per cent of respondents.Living debt free, being able to cope without relying on parents for financial support, and earning more than the average British salary of £26,500 are also seen as unattainable.
While the study of 1,500 16 to 25 year-olds, conducted by vInspired to mark the end of Volunteers’ Week 2016, also found out 42 per cent consider travelling the world to be a pipedream.
Jessica Taplin, CEO of vInspired, the UK’s leading youth volunteering charity, said: “The results highlight the pressures young people face today. Access to the job market, uncertain financial futures and mental health issues are all problems we see young people come up against first-hand. However, we believe that there are other ways young people can gain valuable experience and make them more employable despite some challenging economic circumstances.”
Many young adults don’t think they’ll ever be able to move to a major city such as London or Manchester due to high living costs, competition for jobs and house prices. A further 15 per cent say they have no hope of ever buying their own car, and 17 per cent say having a family seems unrealistic at the moment. Going to University feels unachievable for 13 per cent of those aged 16 to 25, while 16 per cent don’t feel like anyone would ever want to take a chance of them. When it comes to securing their ideal job, seven in 10 people polled said the competition nowadays is so intense they would need completely new qualifications in order to stand any chance at all of success.
Yet 87 per cent of respondents said the high cost of gaining an education is massively impacting their chances of getting the job they’ve always wanted. But three quarters of people polled recognise that doing voluntary work would make them more employable. Perhaps as a result, 77 per cent of respondents are currently volunteering or would consider doing so in the future.
Two thirds of Brits aged 16-25 said volunteering could inspire them to pursue a career they may not have otherwise considered. And around 80 per cent of participants think volunteering can teach you things a degree or other postgraduate qualifications might not, thus making them more employable. Two thirds of respondents said voluntary work meant they could “make a difference”, while over 56 per cent said it gives you motivation and half says it makes you more open-minded.
