A new study has revealed that young people entering the workforce consider skills development training to be vital to their wellbeing, and would consider quitting if their employer doesn’t provide it.
The study, conducted by Grayce, a leading consultancy providing change and transformation support to large global organisations, surveyed over 1,000 young people between 18–25 to reveal insight into their skills as they enter the world of work.
It shows young people have high expectations of support from their employers in bridging important skills gaps, especially around the ‘hard’ skills where young people believe they require more help. Importantly, the emphasis is largely on the employer to redress this. Almost two thirds felt that their employer should pay to send them on training courses to bridge skills gaps, while 60 per cent said that skills development is critical to their wellbeing in the workplace.
The same number said they would actively consider leaving their jobs if their employer wasn’t investing enough time and money in their skills development, with only two in five reporting that their salary is more important than this.
However, young people ranked themselves as highly proficient in the so-called ‘softer skills’. 84 per cent reporting themselves as competent in problem solving, 82 per cent being self-aware, and 79 per cent describing themselves resilient.
“We’re now seeing five generations of talent in the workforce for the first time and need to adapt and respond to differing needs,” said Gemma Collins, Grayce’s Performance and Development Director. “As we develop consultants to support the delivery of change and transformation for the world’s most ambitious organisations we know that the power of an emerging generation will significantly impact a business’ ability to thrive in the modern workplace and understanding how to maximise this huge potential will be crucial.
“Ensuring that the needs of young members of the workforce are understood is not just about a company’s bottom line, either. We all want to work in an environment where we know our needs are being met. That is when we perform our best and are more likely to continue working for an organisation that treats us well.”
Collins also notes: “It is all too easy to be complacent and assume we know what matters to others, but this research shows how important skills development is to an emerging generation of talent. As employers, taking proactive measures to provide the necessary support and training for younger employees is vital. By doing so, businesses can ensure that the next generation of professionals are well-equipped to thrive in a complex digital age and build rewarding, impactful, and lucrative careers.”
