The youth labour market in Cumbria: Employer and young people’s perspectives

Abstract

Significant changes have occurred in the pattern of post-compulsory destinations of young people in England over the past few decades, the most important of which has been the increasing proportion of school leavers remaining in full-time education beyond school leaving age. As a result, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit suitably qualified 16 year olds as the majority are remaining in education; those who are available do not have the required skills or work attitudes. A recent IER study presents an analysis of the education and labour market experiences of young people aged 16 to 19 years in Cumbria. To date, very little attention has focused on the Cumbrian youth labour market.