Defining Good Work for young people, by young people.
Young people, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, face disproportionate challenges to accessing good work. At Youth Futures, we strive for a society where all young people have fair access to good work. For this vision to be meaningful, we need to understand what Good Work really looks like for young people.
The last decade has seen increased attention on the concept of Good Work, with widespread recognition of its importance for wellbeing and living standards. But, until now, young people’s needs and experiences have been largely absent from this discussion.
That’s why, in partnership with Workwhile, we’ve worked with young people to create a definition of Good Work for young people. This definition, developed by marginalised young people, helps us to talk about Good Work in the words of those most affected by unequal access to it.
The Definition
“Good work means feeling valued, fulfilled and supported. It means being respected and treated fairly in a workplace that is diverse and inclusive, where there is open and honest communication and decent pay. Everyone should have a voice. Good work is done to a high standard and gives you a sense of achievement. It happens in a place where you can make change happen. Good work protects your health and wellbeing. You’re excited to tell your friends and family about good work, not because they ask but because you’re proud of it.“
“I am delighted that our collaboration with Workwhile has resulted in such a powerful definition, which enables us to really hear young people’s voices and put them front and centre of the conversation. Knowing that young people want to make a difference and do a great job should spur employers and policy makers to continue listening to young people, and to develop policy and practice that supports them to thrive.
This definition is a foundational step in our ongoing work to develop a comprehensive, data-driven understanding of what constitutes good work for young people. Equipped with robust evidence, we can be confident that when we strive to make good work accessible for young people, we strive for a vision of ‘good work’ that meets their needs.”
Barry Fletcher, CEO
Defining Good Work: How and Why?
In July 2024, a diverse group of people aged 18-25 shared their wants, needs, and experiences to co-create this definition of Good Work. The group had varied experiences of work, but they were united in wanting to be supported to do great things for themselves and their employers.
The definition is designed to be easily communicated and understood by employers, policy makers, and others working in youth employment. As we strive to make Good Work accessible for young people, this definition helps us strive for something that meets their needs.
What’s next?
This is the first time a definition of Good Work has been created by young people. It is a vital staging post in our continuing work to drive evidence-based change. Now, we will give the definition room to evolve as we uncover more evidence.
Dr Hannah King, ESRC Policy Fellow, has joined Youth Futures to delve deeper into understanding what constitutes high quality work for young people. Through this research, we will develop a comprehensive, data-driven, measurable definition of Good Work, built on this foundation of young people’s voices.
