Research

Youth Futures has commissioned this review to support the Connected Futures Fund. The review focuses on understanding the evidence on policies and practices that are effective in changing systems; including how elements and levers (identified by YFF) of systems change interact; and the role played by ‘place’ in systems change.

Currently in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, households claiming Child Benefit are unable to continue claiming for a young person over 16 years old who is undertaking an apprenticeship. This publication researches how the benefits system can better support families with apprentices, ensuring that a minimum level of income adequacy is maintained regardless of the...

Youth Futures commissioned RAND Europe to conduct exploratory research aimed at identifying factors and explanations behind differences in education and employment outcomes for marginalised young people in the UK. The report considers education outcomes as one of key predictors of employment outcomes, and therefore focuses more on the latter.

Youth Futures Foundation commissioned the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to review and consolidate existing evidence on good practice for youth participation in research and evaluation. The review identifies existing participatory methods and draws out facilitators of promising practice.

New research, commissioned by Youth Futures Foundation, reveals that there are two groups of young people facing multiple types of marginalisation that are associated with a substantial increase in becoming NEET (not in employment, education, or training).

We’re delighted to support ReGenerate on the Good Jobs Project. Their approach puts business need at the centre of the vacancies and youth unemployment challenge. By understanding this, we hope to support employers to adapt their practice and behaviour, recruit untapped young talent and recognise their role as a key player in the employment system.

Findings from a participatory research study on young people and self-employment. We are seeing through multiple sources of evidence that young people from marginalised backgrounds do actively consider self-employment for a variety of reasons - and it’s therefore vital we better understand how to ensure their work is of a good quality and invest to make sure they are not further...

Savanta ComRes conducted independent research to understand how 2,296 young people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds make decisions about education and work, and the barriers they face in finding good quality employment opportunities.

The aim of this evidence review is to provide an evidence base on the impact of government policy in the last 10-15 years on employment outcomes for young people from minority ethnic groups.

Learning and Work Institute (L&W) has been commissioned by Youth Futures Foundation, on behalf of the Youth Employment Group Ethnic Disparities subgroup, to conduct a data analysis and gap mapping exercise in order to: Understand labour market outcomes for young people (aged 16-24 inclusive) from minority ethnic backgrounds over the last 15 years. Provide evidence on...

Youth Futures Foundation and BBC Children in Need (CIN)commissioned Cordis Bright to deliver an independent evaluation of its pandemic response Inspiring Futures programme.

This technical report sets out the background to the Youth Employment Evidence and Gap Map, how to use it, what’s in the map and our plans to update the map.

This report explores how to prevent young people from falling out of our education system. A young person being ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET) can be particularly harmful and have long-term ‘scarring’ effects. Individuals who spend time NEET are more likely to be unemployed, and face other challenges including health problems such as depression.

A review of the scientific research literature regarding the impact of practices that employers use to retain young people from marginalised backgrounds. This review presents an overview of the findings.

The PwC Youth Employment Index, produced in collaboration with Youth Futures, provides an important tool to measure, benchmark and monitor progress across the OECD in employing and training young people. This is key to identifying challenges and opportunities in specific economies.

A review of the scientific research literature regarding the impact of practices that employers use to recruit and select young people from marginalised backgrounds. This review presents an overview of the findings.

The aim of the report was to explore the experiences that LGBTQ+ young people have in employment including their time spent job-seeking. This report shares some insight into the experiences and challenges that young LGBTQ+ people face in the workplace with recommendations for employers,...

This report explores young people's experiences with ADHD and their transition from education to employment. The target audience for this document includes employers, education professionals and authorities, job centres, charities, politicians and trade unions.

This report presents analysis of the Employer Skills Survey 2019 to quantify employer engagement with youth employment-related initiatives on several indicators and by key employer characteristics. This report is part of a suite of reports produced for the research programme, which also includes qualitative research amongst SME and large employers to explore engagement in the youth labour market.

This scoping report includes a review of the Inspiring Futures grant programme based on documentation provided by Youth Futures Foundation and BBC CIN. It includes evidence from consultation with nine key Inspiring Futures stakeholders.  

This is a summary of research into employer engagement in the youth labour market i.e. recruiting young people, participating in apprenticeships and traineeships, and providing work experience and work inspiration activities. The research comprises analysis of the Employer Skills Survey 2019 and qualitative research with over 90 employers across size, sector and region.

This report explores barriers to and enablers for small to medium-sized employers' (with under 250 employees) engagement with youth employment programmes. The research is based on the Employer Skills Survey 2019 and 45 qualitative interviews, split across micro, small and medium employers.  

This report provides a summary of research based on analysis of the largest UK data source on employer engagement in youth employability activities (the Employer Skills Survey 2019) and qualitative interviews with 47 major UK employers.

This report explores the impact of the pandemic on young people, the prospects for future employment growth and how youth employment and participation can be increased.

This research informs our strategy and direction of the development of a ‘What Works’ approach by increasing our understanding of our key stakeholders including employers, stakeholders and policymakers.

This report sets out analysis of trends in youth participation in education and employment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

New analysis of the population of young people who are neither earning nor learning, examining both the current drivers of, and future trends associated with, being in this group.