High quality careers advice and guidance is critical to young people’s futures, not only helping to prepare them for the workplace, but also supporting them to acquire and identify the skills that they need to succeed in the world of work.
However, there are concerns that students and graduates are not engaging in these activities as much as they could. Careers services across the country have told us that the issue has become more pronounced following the pandemic.
Anecdotes about students simply not turning up, attendance down at events and a general lack of interest in careers has been commonplace over the last two years. So where are we now?
For the last three years Prospects Early Careers Survey has charted the study and career plans of around 5,000 students and graduates annually. It includes data on where students get support from as well as student attendance at different types of careers sessions over the last year, either online or in-person.
