SETA survey of representatives in Tribunal cases 2008 Research Paper Young people entering work: A review of the research Ref: 18/12 2012 Sarah Oxenbridge and Justine Evesson (Employment Research Australia) For any further information on this study, or other aspects of the Acas Research and Evaluation programme, please telephone 020 7210 3673 or email [email protected] Acas research publications can be found at www.acas.org.uk/researchpapers ISBN 978-1-908370-29-7 Young people entering work: A review of the research                     Sarah Oxenbridge and Justine Evesson Employment Research Australia   1 Contents   Foreword..............................................................................................3 Executive summary................................................................................4 1. Introduction....................................................................................7 2. The research sources surveyed..........................................................8 3. Young people’s views on work and the labour market .........................10 3.1 Young people’s perceptions before starting work: their knowledge of work and the labour market................................................................10 3.2 Young people’s perceptions after starting work and the views of employers........................................................................................13 3.3 Summary ...............................................................................17 4. The challenges faced by young people starting work...........................18 5. Before starting work: means of improving young people’s work-readiness 21 5.1 The value of workplace engagement: an overview............................22 5.2 Employer involvement in the education system................................26 5.3 Work experience and internship programmes...................................28 5.4 Vocational and Educational Training programmes.............................31 5.5 Part-time work while studying .......................................................32 5.6 The role of labour market intermediaries.........................................32 6. Young people starting work: employer support at the workplace...........35 6.1 Preliminary inductions..................................................................35 6.2 Beyond induction processes: deepening support...............................36 7. Conclusions ..................................................................................40 References..........................................................................................44 Appendix 1: Potential research design for a study of young people’s expectations of work ............................................................................48   2 Foreword Youth unemployment is a matter of considerable contemporary policy debate not least in the context of the growth agenda. Beyond the debates, the growing number of young unemployed, including those outside any formal education and training settings, is a matter of concern to us all. The focus of this evidence review, commissioned by Acas, is less on job creation, and more on how employers might be supported in making workplaces more receptive to young people; and how young people themselves might transition more successfully into workplaces. Early work experiences are core determinants of career outcomes – getting these employment experiences right is critical for young people, employers and the economy as a whole, and Acas is keen to see what role it can play in supporting all the parties involved. This is why we commissioned this review. This report presents some heartening evidence of responses by public and other bodies to this growing problem. But it also provides evidence that there is further work to be done. Acas is well placed to offer support to employers and I am struck by the evidence and conclusions in this report with proposals on how we might actively intervene to support employers in making workplaces more receptive to young people. The review also suggests that there is work to be done in addressing the needs of young people as they transition to the workplace. All relationships carry challenges and none more so than the employment relationship with its reliance on terms and conditions, but also unwritten terms around reciprocity and responsibilities for all parties. The issue of the so-called ‘psychological contract’ and how it might be conveyed to young people alongside the more formal aspects of working life is one area that Acas may be able to contribute to. We will be exploring how we might address this gap and seeking partners to collaborate with us in this respect. Finally the review identifies a gap in the evidence-base revealing limited research on young people’s own perspectives of how they feel about moving from education to the workplace: what worries them and what excites them. We hope that interested bodies will take up the challenges to address this research gap and welcome discussion with stakeholders. Our thanks to Employment Research Australia for this study, and in particular for the international perspective that their work brings. Ed Sweeney Chair, Acas   3 Executive summary The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) commissioned a review of research examining young people’s expectations of work, the challenges they face in starting work, and the means by which their transition to work may be improved. It sought to capture the perspectives of both young people and employers. The review was undertaken in the context of high levels of youth unemployment in Britain in mid-2012. A search of the available research studies and reports found an abundance of literature on employers’ views of the skills required by young people entering the workplace, but less on employer strategies for easing young workers into first jobs. There was also a relative paucity of research investigating young adults’ perceptions and thoughts about the journey into work and their expectations of jobs and employment, prior to obtaining work. In addition, little research was found that examined how young people in their first jobs experience working life. An issue of some concern is the current gap in the literature relating to the expectations and experiences of young people in Britain, before and after starting work, from the time of the 2008 recession onwards and in the context of deepening youth unemployment. Views of young people before and after starting work Studies of young people in the UK point to considerable variation in knowledge of work and labour market conditions. Disadvantaged young people and those from rural areas had limited knowledge while other studies of young people in the round found high awareness of the nature of work and realism about labour market conditions and opportunities for employment. Some found that most young people were aware of limited local job opportunities, yet remained positive about obtaining employment. Recent studies find that high proportions of young people in the UK perceive work experience (or a lack of it) as the main enabler (or barrier) to obtaining work. Most young people who were anticipating a move into work, or who had started work, felt they possessed high levels of awareness of the soft skills (including enthusiasm, communication and problem solving skills) desired by employers, and in some cases, felt that they possessed these attributes. However, studies of employer opinions regarding whether novice workers were in possession of soft skills indicated mixed findings. Some survey findings demonstrated a majority employer view that young recruits are well-prepared for work, while smaller qualitative studies revealed employer views that novice workers lacked essential soft skills. The challenges faced by young people While young people may be aware of the importance of soft skills, or may feel that they possess them, research indicated that they may feel vulnerable, unprepared or lacking confidence when starting work. Young people reported finding the early days of their first jobs intimidating, daunting and anxiety- provoking and felt that employers held unrealistic expectations of their skills and 4 abilities given their lack of experience. Some reported difficulties adjusting to the work lifestyle, in particular the long hours and level of responsibility involved in their job. Researchers advocate that educators should provide guidance for young people anticipating work, to help them to understand and deal with the anxiety they may experience on entering work, and that employers make an effort to “socialise” young people entering workplaces for the first time. Before starting work: means of improving young people’s work- readiness Young people’s engagement with workplaces before transitioning to post- education employment may take the form of part-time work combined with study, work experience, employer involvement in the education system, vocational and educational training (VET) programmes, and via labour market intermediaries. Research indicates that workplace engagement prior to transitioning to post- study employment offers a range of benefits for young people. Studies demonstrate that the soft skills required by employers are best developed ‘on the job’, and that employers increasingly seek employees with some form of prior work experience. Workplace engagement prior to post-study employment enables young people to: develop employability skills and confidence; identify with the benefits associated with employment; avoid the ‘culture shock’ that occurs when beginning work; improve their post-study job prospects via network and Curriculum Vitae-building opportunities; and help them refine decisions regarding career options and pathways. Australian studies found structured engagements (school-based apprenticeships and work placements) were valued more by young people for enhancing employability than part-time work or short work experience placements. This compared with UK studies of young people, the majority of whom felt that work experience is the most valuable means of building employability skills prior to starting work. The report describes the range of mechanisms by which school students and unemployed young people may undertake work experience. Research identifies student views of the deficiencies of such programmes. This has led to employer and advocacy bodies developing guides setting out how work experience can be recast to be more “meaningful” for those involved (students, employers, and schools). More generally, these bodies have begun to promote greater links between employers and educational institutions, and suggest ways in which employers may engage with young people at the local level. The report also profiles a sample of VET programmes and initiatives run by labour market intermediaries which have been found to improve young people’s work- readiness. Young people starting work: employer support at the workplace Research examining strategies by which employing organisations can provide support for novice workers is canvassed. Key among these are targeted and robust induction processes, close managerial or supervisory support, buddying 5 and mentoring schemes, and strategies for “socialising” young workers within the workplace culture. Research indicated a disjunction between the needs of young people entering work and the induction processes provided by employers. Induction processes were found to be generic in nature, and not tailored to address the difficulties young people described when starting work. This resulted in young workers feeling unsupported in the workplace. However, ongoing support from workplace buddies, mentors and family members was found to be beneficial to young people starting work, and research also indicated that the experience and skill of the employer and supervisors in dealing with young workers made a significant difference to the success of the move into post-study work. Relatively simple socialisation strategies helped build novice workers’ confidence and made them feel more at ease in the workplace. Overall, research indicated that it is the nature of the day to day interactions between young people and their peers and supervisors within the context of the workplace that is most important in helping ease young people’s transition to work. 6 1. Introduction The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) commissioned a review of the research literature relating to young people entering work1. The review was undertaken in mid-2012, in the context of high and growing youth unemployment in Great Britain. The following areas comprise the focus of the literature search and review:  Young people’s expectations of work: how young people perceive the challenge of workplaces; their concerns, and what daunts and excites them;  Young people’s needs (including skill needs) in entering the workplace; and  What can be done to smooth the transition to work, and what employers might do to make workplaces receptive to young people. An initial review of academic literature and reports produced by organisations with an interest in the subject area was conducted to assess whether there was sufficient research literature to produce a discussion paper on the topic. An annotated bibliography was produced in April 2012 which profiled the range of research literature available in relation to young people in the labour market. Articles were sourced through academic search engines and general web searches using relevant keywords. Whilst the search generated a slew of articles pertaining to young people entering the labour market in broad terms, few studies were found which directly addressed the areas of interest to Acas. However, throughout April and May 2012, an increasing number of research reports were issued by UK-based interest groups relating to strategies for reducing youth unemployment, and in particular, the role that employers might play in helping to tackle unemployment among young people. As a consequence, the apparent groundswell of interest in the topic, and rising levels of concern relating to the impact of youth unemployment more generally, were key factors in the decision to produce the paper. A second-stage literature review was conducted in June 2012. This was broad- based in nature and built on sources identified in the initial annotated bibliography, as well as canvassing additional sources such as new reports issued throughout the April-June 2012 period. In some cases, researchers cited in this report were contacted directly to discuss their research findings and seek advice relating to other relevant research sources.                                                              1 The review was undertaken and the paper drafted by Dr Sarah Oxenbridge and Justine Evesson of Employment Research Australia. The research sources surveyed use the term ‘young people’ with reference to slightly different age ranges, most often but not exclusively to describe those aged between 16-24 years.  7 2. The research sources surveyed A survey of the available research literature found that there is a relative abundance of survey research on employer views of skills needed by young people on entering the workplace (often described as skills for ‘employability’2), or case studies of policy initiatives designed to improve young people’s employability3. In contrast, relatively little research was found which examined young workers’ perceptions of work prior to obtaining employment, or employer strategies for easing young workers into first jobs. The majority of research relating to young workers’ expectations of work appears to have been produced by Australian academics and is qualitative, ethnographic, and in the main, longitudinal in nature. While an extensive search was conducted to identify equivalent studies undertaken by researchers in the UK and other countries, this proved largely fruitless. The findings of the Australian studies were, however, found to be rich in useful detail which might be expected to reflect the views and early work experiences of young people in other labour markets. Nevertheless, it should also be cautioned that this Australian research was conducted in a period of relative economic stability among a cohort of young people who had relatively ample opportunities for workplace engagement (primarily via part-time working and Vocational Education and Training programmes). We might therefore expect some difference in views to be expressed by participants of similar studies which have been conducted in a context of economic recession and high unemployment. The authors of these Australian studies are among the chorus of commentators lamenting the scarcity of research in which young people transitioning to work are the unit of analysis. Morris et al, surveying the available research in 1999, concluded at the time that, “No good quality research literature has been discovered on young people’s attitudes towards employers or the structure of work” (1999:64). Taylor similarly described the literature on youth early career experience as “surprisingly sparse” (2003:3). This remains the situation as the decade has progressed. Besen-Cassino (2008) notes that while youth employment has been studied extensively from the perspectives of parents, educators, and policy-makers, the central actors – young people themselves –                                                              2 The literature on the attributes that make up ‘employability’ skills is not covered in this report. However, a report on work experience by the CBI (2007:12) lists the employability skills that they consider to be desired by employers. They include: self-management; teamworking; business and customer awareness; problem solving; communication and literacy; application of numeracy; and application of information technology. 3 The literature review also found a wealth of research into young people relating to the following topics, all of which are only touched upon in this report and are not reviewed in any detail: vocational education and training (including apprenticeships); post-school transitions/pathways; young people’s future career or occupational aspirations and desired job attributes; the impact of school-aged part-time work on a range of factors; disadvantaged youth and their entry into the labour market; and sources of information, advice and guidance for young people entering the labour market.   8